Jones Act Lawyers Serving New York & New Jersey

Injured at sea or on a vessel? You have powerful rights under the Jones Act. This federal law lets injured seamen sue their employers for negligence and recover full compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disability benefits. Our New York Jones Act attorneys have more than 35 years of experience helping injured maritime workers across NYC, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey. Unlike workers' compensation, the Jones Act lets you recover full damages and hold negligent maritime employers accountable.

Call our New York office at 212-465-8840 or our New Jersey office at 908-393-5662 for a FREE case evaluation.

Free Jones Act Consultation

What Is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act, formally the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that protects American maritime workers injured on the job. It recognizes that maritime work is inherently dangerous and gives injured seamen stronger protection than standard workers' compensation. Under the Jones Act, you can recover:

• Complete medical expenses for all past and future treatment
• Lost wages and earning capacity, including future income
• Pain and suffering for physical and emotional distress
• Disability benefits for permanent impairments
• Punitive damages in cases of willful negligence or misconduct

The Jones Act also carries a worker-friendly standard of proof: you only need to show that employer negligence played "any part, even the slightest" in causing your injury. It works alongside other maritime protections, including maintenance and cure and the unseaworthiness doctrine, which requires vessel owners to provide seaworthy vessels and equipment.

Who Qualifies for Jones Act Protection?

To be covered, you must meet the legal definition of a "seaman." You generally qualify if your work contributes to the function of a vessel, you have a substantial connection to a vessel or fleet, and you spend at least 30% of your work time in the service of a vessel on navigable waters.

Maritime workers who typically qualify include:

• Commercial vessel crew members, including deckhands, engineers, and mates
• Tugboat and barge crews working New York Harbor and the Hudson and East Rivers
• Ferry workers, including Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry crews
• Commercial fishing vessel crew members
• Offshore platform and drilling rig workers
• Cruise ship crew and ship repair workers who spend significant time aboard vessels

Some workers don't meet the seaman definition but still have options. Longshoremen, dock workers, and stevedores are often covered instead by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). Even if you are not a Jones Act seaman, our maritime attorneys will evaluate every available claim.

Types of Jones Act Claims We Handle

Our experienced New York Jones Act attorneys handle every type of maritime injury throughout NYC and New Jersey, including:

• Vessel accidents and equipment failures — winch, crane, engine room, and navigation failures. When vessel owners cut corners, workers get hurt.
• Slip, trip, and fall accidents — hazardous decks in rough weather and falls from height on ladders, catwalks, and rigging.
• Offshore platform and drilling rig injuries — explosions, fires, chemical exposures, and crane accidents.
• Tugboat and barge accidents — line-handling crush injuries, harbor collisions, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Commercial fishing injuries — gear entanglement, winch crush injuries, overboard incidents, and hypothermia.
• Ferry and passenger vessel accidents — including onboard assaults and vehicle loading injuries.
• Ship repair and maintenance injuries — welding and hot-work burns, confined-space accidents, and toxic fume exposure.

Jones Act vs. Workers' Compensation

Jones Act protection is significantly more favorable than standard workers' compensation. The key differences:

In short, the Jones Act lets you recover 100% of lost wages instead of two-thirds, faces no benefit caps, compensates pain and suffering, and puts your case in front of a jury of your peers.

Compensation Available Under the Jones Act

Jones Act claims allow full compensation without the caps typical of workers' compensation. Economic damages cover all past and future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, lost benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In cases of willful misconduct, punitive damages may also apply. Wondering what your claim may be worth? See how we approach estimating a fair Jones Act settlement.

Recent recoveries for our maritime clients include:

• $2.3 million settlement for a dock worker injured by defective crane equipment
• $1.8 million recovery for a tugboat worker who suffered severe back injuries
• $1.2 million verdict for offshore platform explosion injuries
• $950,000 settlement for a Staten Island Ferry worker's slip and fall

Maintenance and Cure Benefits

Separate from and in addition to Jones Act damages, every injured seaman is entitled to maintenance and cure, regardless of fault. Maintenance covers daily living expenses during recovery. Cure covers all reasonable medical treatment — from emergency care to surgery, therapy, and medication — until you reach maximum medical improvement. Receiving maintenance and cure does not reduce your Jones Act recovery, and when employers wrongfully delay or deny these benefits, you may be entitled to additional damages. Learn more about maintenance and cure benefits for injured maritime workers.

How We Prove Negligence in Jones Act Claims

The Jones Act's relaxed standard means you only need to show that employer negligence played "any part, even the slightest" in your injury. Common forms of maritime employer negligence include inadequate training, understaffing, defective or poorly maintained equipment, missing safety procedures, and Coast Guard regulation violations.

Our team moves quickly to preserve the evidence that wins these cases — accident scene documentation, witness statements, vessel maintenance and inspection records, crew schedules, and Coast Guard reports — and works with naval architects, marine engineers, and maritime safety experts to establish liability. Even if your own actions contributed to the accident, you can still recover; your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

Time Limits for Filing a Jones Act Claim

Jones Act negligence claims generally must be filed within three years of the injury. Some cases carry much shorter deadlines — employment contracts may require written notice within days, and claims involving government-owned vessels can require prompt notice of claim. Because evidence disappears and maritime workers transfer or leave the industry quickly, it is important to consult a Jones Act attorney as soon as possible after your injury to preserve your rights and secure maintenance and cure benefits.

Why Choose Hofmann & Schweitzer for Your Jones Act Claim

Since 1985, Hofmann & Schweitzer has represented injured maritime workers throughout the New York metropolitan area — at New York Harbor, the Hudson and East Rivers, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Port Newark-Elizabeth, and offshore. Our attorneys are members of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and have recovered millions of dollars for injured seamen and their families.

We handle every Jones Act claim on a contingency fee basis: no upfront fees, we advance all litigation costs, and you owe nothing unless we win. With offices in Manhattan and Raritan, we serve injured workers across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City, and surrounding communities. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we can meet you at your home or hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jones Act Claims

What is the Jones Act and who does it protect?

The Jones Act is a federal law that allows injured seamen to sue their employers for negligence. It protects maritime workers who spend at least 30% of their work time aboard vessels in navigation, including crew members on commercial vessels, tugboats, barges, ferries, and offshore platforms. The Jones Act provides broader protection than workers' compensation, allowing recovery of full damages including lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and disability benefits.

How much compensation can I receive from a Jones Act claim in New York?

Jones Act claims allow recovery of full damages including all medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability benefits, and loss of enjoyment of life. Additionally, you may receive maintenance and cure benefits for daily living expenses and medical treatment during recovery. The amount varies based on injury severity, but New York maritime workers have recovered settlements ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

How long do I have to file a Jones Act claim in New York?

Jones Act claims have a 3-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. However, maintenance and cure benefits should be claimed immediately after your injury. Some circumstances may shorten this deadline, so it's crucial to consult with a New York Jones Act attorney as soon as possible after your maritime injury to protect your rights. Evidence disappears quickly, and early legal involvement significantly strengthens your case.

What's the difference between the Jones Act and workers' compensation?

The Jones Act provides significantly broader protection than workers' compensation. Unlike workers' comp, Jones Act claims allow you to sue your employer for negligence, recover full damages including pain and suffering, have your case heard by a jury, and receive compensation without caps on awards. Workers' compensation typically limits benefits to medical expenses and partial wage replacement (usually two-thirds of wages) without pain and suffering damages.

Can I still recover compensation if my maritime injury was partially my fault?

Yes. The Jones Act follows comparative negligence principles, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for your injury. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you won't be completely barred from compensation. For example, if you were 20% at fault, you would still recover 80% of your total damages.

Do I need a lawyer for my Jones Act claim in NYC?

Yes. Jones Act claims involve complex federal maritime law that differs significantly from standard personal injury cases. Maritime employers and their insurers have experienced legal teams working to minimize payouts. An experienced New York Jones Act attorney understands federal maritime law, vessel safety regulations, Coast Guard requirements, and how to maximize your compensation. Most Jones Act lawyers work on contingency, meaning no upfront costs to you - we only get paid if we win your case.

Contact Our NYC & NJ Jones Act Lawyers Today

If you've been injured while working on a vessel, you need experienced Jones Act representation right away — maritime employers and their insurers move quickly to limit their liability. During your free consultation, our attorneys will explain whether you qualify as a seaman, assess the strength of your negligence claim, discuss the compensation you may recover, and outline a strategy for your case. There is no cost and no obligation.

New York Office: 212 W 35th St Fl 12, New York, NY 10001 — 212-465-8840
New Jersey Office: 1130 US-202 Ste A7, Raritan, NJ 08869 — 908-393-5662

Proudly serving injured maritime workers throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City, and the entire New York and New Jersey harbor region. You have only three years to file a Jones Act claim, and waiting even a few weeks can damage your case.

Free Jones Act Consultation