What is the Definition of a Seaman Under the Jones Act
Individuals who work offshore and on the water must be very careful when they sustain an injury at work. Most of these individuals will qualify as “seamen” under a Federal statute known as the Jones Act. The Jones Act allows an injured maritime worker to file a tort-based lawsuit against their employer and seek all damages caused by the injury including pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of fringe benefits. However, in order to file suit under the Jones Act the maritime worker must first meet the definition of a “seaman” under the Jones Act. This definition states that the employee must be “more or less permanently assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels in navigation.”
