Mesothelioma: Jones Act claims
The Jones Act provides crucial legal protections for seamen and maritime workers who suffer injuries while working aboard vessels. Maritime workers face some of the highest injury rates among all occupational sectors, with unique hazards that land-based workers rarely encounter. Slippery decks, heavy machinery in motion, severe weather conditions, and the constant movement of vessels create dangerous working conditions.
The Jones Act, passed in 1920, holds vessel owners accountable when their negligence contributes to crew injuries. Unlike standard workers' compensation, the Jones Act allows injured seamen to pursue full damages, including pain and suffering, even when they share partial responsibility for an accident. Our experienced maritime lawyers understand the complexities of Jones Act claims and will fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
Mesothelioma: FELA claims
Railroad employees injured on the job are protected by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), not traditional workers' compensation. This distinction is critical because FELA allows railroad workers to hold their employers accountable in ways that workers' compensation does not. Enacted by Congress in 1908 during an era when railroad work was one of America's deadliest professions, FELA continues to protect workers who face serious hazards, including derailments, coupling accidents, falls from equipment, repetitive stress injuries, and toxic chemical exposures. Many railroad workers develop occupational diseases years after exposure to diesel fumes, asbestos, or industrial solvents.
FELA's burden of proof is notably favorable to workers. Employers can be held liable if their negligence played even the slightest role in causing an injury. Our attorneys have successfully represented countless railroad workers in FELA claims, recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term disability.