Differences between Jones Act and Longshore Act

People in New York have many different types of jobs, but as New York is on the ocean and a major shipping harbor, there are many people who work in the industry. There are many different aspects of the industry and people have many different jobs within the industry as well. Some work on the ships and travel with it to the various destinations. Others work on the docks loading and unloading ships, maintenance of the boats and many other types of jobs.

The various types of jobs that people have in this industry have varying levels of dangers but there is a lot of heavy machinery that is used and there are many heavy objects being moved around. This means that when there are accidents the workers can suffer severe injuries. These injuries can force the worker to incur significant medical bills and miss time at work. This means that they may also lose income. However, workers in this industry may be entitled to compensation for the damages they suffer.

Eligibility requirements for compensation

There are two main acts that protect workers in the industry. There is the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Worker Compensation Act (LHWCA). Both provide similar compensation, so it is important to know which one to file a claim under if a worker is injured on the job. The Jones Act protects seaman, which is basically defined as workers who are a part of the navigation of the ships. The LHWCA covers the employees who work on the shore in the shipping yards who may be involved in construction, ship maintenance, ship builders and others.

Maritime workers in New York rely on their jobs to provide for themselves and their families. If they are injured on the job, it can be devastating but they may be able to receive compensation for their injuries. The compensation will not heal the injuries, but it can still be very valuable to at least ease the financial difficulties people may experience as they recover physically. Experienced attorneys understand the different acts protecting maritime workers and may be able to guide one through the process.