At our law firm, we offer you a unique level of attention. We hope that these frequently asked questions will help you understand more about the way we work and validate our passion for helping people who are going through difficult situations.
The Jones Act requires workers to show their seaman status by demonstrating the Chandris test: a substantial connection to or contribution to a vessel or identifiable fleet. A court determines eligibility for each case based on evidence such as employment records, vessel documentation, and witness testimony.
Employment logs, work schedules, and assignment rosters demonstrating 30% or more of your time on vessels in navigable waters establish the duration requirement for seaman status. A timekeeping record indicating your vessel duties over multiple weeks or months proves the continuous vessel connection that the courts examine. Maritime pay scales or wage statements labeling you as a crew support seaman classification claims.
Your own records comparing vessel time to shore time can bolster employer documentation, especially when company files are missing or contested. Documentation must show consistent, regular vessel assignments rather than sporadic or incidental vessel work to satisfy the 30% benchmark.
You can prove your contribution to vessel operation by documenting your deck work, engineering, cooking, maintenance, and navigation duties. Your employment agreement or assignment letter, which places you under vessel-based supervision rather than shore management, strengthens your claims by showing your primary workplace relationship.
Jobs demonstrating direct contributions to the ship's mission or maritime commerce operations satisfy the contribution prong of the Chandris test, such as cooks or electricians, even without navigation skills.
You will need to provide captains' reports and vessel logs confirming that the vessel was "in navigation" if you worked aboard a qualifying vessel. These records show that the vessel was afloat, operable, and engaged in commerce, rather than permanently moored. Records of vessel movements, mooring documentation, and cargo manifests confirm active vessel operations.
A vessel's registration documents, coast guard certifications, and inspection records confirm it meets Jones Act standards established in cases like Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co.
A captain, crew member, or supervisor's statement confirming your regular vessel assignment, exposure to maritime hazards, and involvement in vessel operations can support seaman status. Testimony from your coworkers describing your daily duties, your time on board vessels, and your role in vessel functions supports both Chandris prongs.
Your supervisor's statement explaining your reporting structure and confirming your employment with onboard officers rather than shore supervisors proves your employment connection to vessels.
Medical reports linking your injury to vessel service prove the harm arose while performing vessel-related duties. Incident reports filed with the vessel operator, coast guard reports, or employer accident documentation establish when and where the injury occurred. These records connect your harm to your work aboard the vessel, satisfying the injury occurrence requirement.
Photographs or videos of your work sites aboard vessels, expert affidavits analyzing your total employment duties and vessel time percentage, and correspondence with employers about vessel assignments all strengthen eligibility claims. Evidence that you reported to onboard officers, lived aboard vessels, or participated in vessel operations shows that you have a substantial vessel connection.
Our attorneys have extensive experience gathering and presenting evidence to prove Jones Act seaman status and eligibility. When workers do not meet the 30% threshold or cannot demonstrate substantial vessel ties, the court will reject their claim, making thorough documentation a necessity from the beginning. Get in touch with Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. for a free consultation about what evidence exists in your employment history and how we can help you establish Jones Act eligibility.