The Jones Act allows an injured seaman or fisherman to bring a claim against his or her employer for the negligence which caused the injury. The following are some examples of negligence that may cause injuries under maritime law:
Injured seamen and fishermen may also have claims against their employers for "unseaworthiness if the vessel or its equipment is defective in some way. These are a few problems that your employer may be responsible for due to an unseaworthy vessel:
Seamen and fishermen are not subject to workers' compensation laws. The only exception is fish processors who work on factory ships or barges moored within three miles of Alaska, who are subject to both the Jones Act and the state compensation laws of Alaska. If they are injured, they must choose either to sue under the Jones Act or to apply for Alaska State Comp benefits.
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