Last Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer
If you are a seaman injured in the service of a vessel, federal maritime law can provide remedies that look different from state workers’ compensation. The Jones Act is a negligence action against the employer. Maintenance and cure is a separate obligation that does not require proving fault.
Maritime injuries can involve federal law that differs from ordinary state personal injury and workers’ compensation law. The Jones Act provides a negligence remedy for qualifying seamen, while maintenance and cure is a separate maritime obligation. Whether a worker qualifies as a seaman and whether a structure is a vessel depend on the facts and governing federal law.
Seaman status
Courts evaluate whether a worker has a substantial connection in both duration and nature to a vessel or identifiable fleet of vessels in navigation. Job title alone does not determine seaman status, and structures such as rigs may require a separate vessel analysis.
Maintenance and cure
Maintenance generally addresses reasonable food and lodging expenses while an eligible seaman recovers ashore, while cure concerns medical care related to the illness or injury until maximum medical improvement under maritime law. The amount and duration can be disputed and depend on the facts.
How a claim often moves
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Get medical care and report the injury.
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Write down the vessel, job, and who controlled the work.
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Keep expense records if you are off the vessel.
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Talk with an attorney before you sign a release the company mails to you.
How Brock & Stout can help
We can evaluate worker and vessel status, investigate potential Jones Act negligence, review maintenance-and-cure issues, gather employment and medical records, and explain which legal framework may apply. Contact us for a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Personal injury claims are subject to filing deadlines, and the deadline that applies can depend on the facts of the case. Different notice requirements may apply depending on who is involved. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Speak with an attorney promptly.
No. Jones Act and maintenance and cure are maritime remedies. State workers’ compensation is a different statute with different benefits and usually an exclusive-remedy rule against the employer.
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- Workplace Injuries: Third-Party Claims vs Workers’ Compensation — Workplace Injuries: Third-Party Claims vs Workers’ Compensation
When workers’ compensation applies, it is generally the exclusive remedy against the employer, subject to applicable law and exceptions. Alabama and Georgia law also preserve qualifying claims against third parties whose conduct caused a workplace injury. Depending on the facts, a third-party claim may involve another driver, contractor, property owner, manufacturer, or another responsible party.
Talk with a personal injury attorney
We can review the crash or injury, insurance, and medical records and explain what a claim may involve in Alabama or Georgia.
This page is general educational information about personal injury claims as of the date shown. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee a result. Facts, insurance coverage, and state law vary. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Personal Injury Knowledge Center
