11 Essential Tips To Help Win Your Jones Act Case I We help get you maintenance and cure/ medical treatment. We can help today. Call 619-234-2833 or 866-963-0540

11 Essential Tips To Help Win Your Jones Act Case
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"When you are seriously injured in a vessel accident, you need to know your attorneys are doing everything they possibly can to get you the best medical treatment and current benefits. You need to know that your legal rights are being vigorously protected. You need to sleep at night knowing you have the best lawyer for your case. We can give you that kind of peace of mind. What lawyer you select makes all the difference in whether you prevail in your Jones Act injury case. We have been helping Seaman and their families since the 1980's. We put the client first. Always." Jones Act Attorney - Bill Turley



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Jones Act Lawyer Straight Talk: 11 Essential Tips For Seriously Injured Jones Act Seaman


Caution: You Should Read This Article First - - Even Before You Hire A Jones Act Lawyer

This article is "MUST READING" for seriously injured Jones Act Seaman. If you only read one article about the Jones Act, it should be this article. We provide essential tips to help keep you from losing your Jones Act case BEFORE you hire a Jones Act Attorney. Here, we provide simple step by step instructions to keep you from sinking your Jones Act case.


1. Report Your Injury Immediately.

Be sure to immediately report your injury to a supervisor or someone higher in the company. You should confirm that you reported the injury with an e-mail. If you send it to yourself also, you will have proof that you reported your injury.


2. Don't Get Talked Out Of Reporting Your Injury

Many times, supervisors and the like will try and pressure injured crew members to "hold-off" on reporting injury claims. Don't buy it. It is your future. The longer you wait to report your injury or illness, the more chance that it will be denied by the insurance company. If your supervisor pressures you not to report the claim, you need to document that also. Send an e-mail to the supervisor outlining that you tried to report the incident and they pressured you not to report the injury. That way, you will have proof of your injury. You can write the e-mail in a neutral matter of fact manner, without finger pointing.


3. Don't Give a Recorded Statement or a Written Statement

If you give a recorded statement or written statement, it will be used against you to deny your claim. If the adjuster tells you they can't provide medical treatment/ cure or daily maintenance benefits unless you provide a statement you should immediately contact a seasoned Jones Act Attorney.


3. Don't Sign Medical Releases or Employment Releases

Never, ever sign medical releases or employment releases from the insurance company. Once again, they are only looking for things that they can use against you.


4. Don't Trust The Insurance Adjuster

The insurance adjuster is not your friend. They may act nice to you. However, their job is to look for reasons to deny your injury claim. When you do communicate with the insurance adjuster, be polite. But keep conversations limited. Of course, you don't want to be rude. Remember, everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Whatever, you do, don't take legal advice from the insurance adjuster.


5. Document Your Wages

Document all your Seaman wages, overtime, bonuses, etc. You will need to organize all your pay stubs and W-2's. You will need these to document your wage loss claim.


6. Organize Your Medical Records

You need to keep track of all the medical providers you receive treatment from you're your injuries.


7. You Need Witnesses

Once you leave the vessel it is oftentimes difficult to reconnect with fellow crew members. If possible, immediately get their contact information: e-mail address, cell phone numbers, home addresses or even the contact information for relatives who they keep in contact with. Trying to track down witnesses is hard enough. Now factor in that three years form now they may be working on different vessels across the world. In order to prevail you need evidence. This is very important.


8. Take Photos of the Incident Site

You may have heard that a Photo Is Worth 1000 Words. A photo can sometimes mean the difference between winning and losing your Jones Act case. You must try and get photos of the injury scene. Try and take them as soon after your injury as possible. Most people have phones with cameras. Take as many photographs as possible. From as many angles as possible. If you are laid up, ask a trusted crew member to take them for you and to text or e-mail you the photos. It can make all the difference.


9. Tell the Truth. Always

You have only one case. If the Judge or jury thinks you have lied to them you will lose your case. Always tell the truth. Don't fudge or exaggerate your injuries.


10. Prior Injuries and Claims

This is the one area where injured seaman sink their case. Repeatedly. In this age of the data bases and the Internet, don't think you are going to try and sneak and old injury by the insurance company. If you do, you are playing right into their hands. Once you get caught, your case may be over. Don't go there.


11. Don't Treat with the Company Doctor

You get to choose your doctor. Don't blow it by going to the insurance company doctor for treatment. Time and again, we see the insurance company telling injured Seaman that they are, "Fine, back to work." When in reality they are seriously injured and require surgery. Once they release you back to work, it is very, very difficult to get the medical treatment you need.

"We have a personal approach with our clients. We take the time to get to know you and your family." Bill Turley

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Our Personal Approach:

Our lawyers and staff offer a personal approach to winning your case. We know what a serious injury or death can mean to you and your family. As a client, we want to know how your accident has affected your life. We will discuss all aspects of your case with you, advise you of your options and involve you in the decision making process. Helping you through this difficult time is our commitment. We are always available to answer your questions and will always keep you informed. We will do everything to ensure that you receive the highest compensation for your injuries.


Helping Injured Seaman Since 1987

Since 1987, we have represented clients from all walks of life, from Captains to AB's to Oilers. As our client, we will utilize our experience and reputation to ensure that you receive the highest amount of compensation in the fastest time possible. We are committed to helping you through this difficult time. We have a reputation of excellence and have a high success rate in helping clients obtain maximum recovery for their loss of a family member.

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Where Should You Hire An Attorney?

California Allows Seaman To FIle Jones Act Cases In California - Even If You Were Injured or Were Working In another State!
Many of the big shipping companies and fishing companies regularly recruit workers from California to work on their vessels. When they get seriously hurt, they get shipped home.


When the injury is serious, what should you do?

We recommend they call us. Many times we can bring claims for these seaman in California State Court. Flying back and forth from distant ports can really add up the costs of a lawsuit. When you bring your case in California State Court, you in effect, level the playing field between you and the insurance company.

The last thing the insurance company wants you to do is file your claim in California State Court. By doing so, you are taking away the shipping companies or fish processing companies big advantage - - making you file a claim in their state.

Thus, if you are from California and you were injured in another State or working for a shipping company or fish procession company from another state - - you should call us. If you call an out of state attorney they are most likely going to file your claim in their state.

If you call us, we are going to try to keep your case here in California. In your home court - not the insurance companies home court. Call us first.


 Forum Selection Clauses

At times, lawsuits and claims must be filed where the incident occurred or, for example, pursuant to a forum selection clause, in cities far removed from where the claimant resides. Thus, we accept cases with clients that live all over America and the world. The Turley Law Firm has a world-wide practice. 

Somtimes seaman may get injured in another State and there is a forum selction clause which states the lawsuit must be filed in California.  In these instances, we may represent Seaman and crewmembers that come from states and/or ports very distant from California.

Based upon the foregoing California venue rules and  forum selection clauses, we accept cases for injured Seaman that are injured all over America, including:

Alabama, Montgomery, AL, Birmingham, Alaska, Juneau, AK, Anchorage, Kodiak, Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado River, Arkansas, Little Rock, AR, California, Sacramento, CA, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Port Hueneme, Oceanside, Yuba City, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Colorado, Denver, CO, Connecticut, Hartford, CT, Delaware, Dover, DE, Florida, Tallahassee, FL, Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, Georgia, Atlanta, GA, Savanna , Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, Pearl Harbor, Idaho, Boise, ID, Illinois, Springfield, IL, Chicago, Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, Iowa, Des Moines, IA, Kansas, Topeka, KS, Kentucky, Frankfort, KY, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA, New Orleans, Maine, Augusta, ME, Portland, Maryland, Annapolis, MD, Baltimore, Massachusetts, Boston, MA, Quincy, Michigan, Lansing, MI, Detroit, Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Mississippi, Jackson, MS, Pascagoula, Gulfport, Missouri, Jefferson City, MO, Saint Louis, St. Louis, Montana, Helena, MT, Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, Nevada, Carson City, NV, New Hampshire, Concord, NH, New Jersey, Trenton, NJ, Newark, Jersey City, New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM, New York, Albany, NY, New York City, Buffalo, Erie, Rochester, North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, Wilmington, North Dakota, Bismarck, ND, Ohio, Columbus, OH, Toledo, Akron, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, Oregon, Salem, OR, Portland, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Providence, RI, Newport, South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Charleston, South Dakota, Pierre, SD, Tennessee, Nashville, TN, Memphis, Texas, Austin, TX, Houston, Dallas, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, Vermont, Montpelier, VT, Virginia, Richmond, VA, Norfolk, Va Beach, Virginia Beach, Washington, Olympia, Seattle, West Virginia, Charleston, WV, Wisconsin, Madison, WI, Milwaukee, Wyoming, Cheyenne, WY.

Disclaimer:  We are California lawyers. We can not and do not hold ourselves out as being  attorneys from any other State.  We do handle cases for Seaman that are filed in other States. In those instances we associate in local counsel and we can practice in most states as pro hoc vice counsel.   As stated above,  we  provide legal representation  for California residents that are injured all over the United States and the World.




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The Turley Law Firm
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San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-2833
Fax: (619) 234-4048
Toll Free: 866-963-0540


The San Diego, California personal injury law firm of The Turley Law Firm serves clients across  Southern California area. We give you straight talk about your legal options. We have handled cases from San Diego to Imperial Beach to Oceanside to Escondido to El Cajon, everywhere in between, such as: Alpine, Camp Pendleton, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado,  Del Mar, Eastlake, Encinitas, La Mesa, La Costa, La Jolla, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Mission Bay, NAS San Diego, National City, Naval Station San Diego, North Island, North County, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Port of San Diego, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, San Diego Harbor, Santee, Solana Beach, South Bay, Spring Valley, Vista.

We handle cases across California, including: Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, Imperial County, Los Angeles County, and Ventura County, Colorado River, Mexico, Cabo, Pacific Ocean and all the Oceans and waterways across California and the World.


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