The Jones Act in Tacoma, Washington
The lawyers at BOATLAW, LLP have over 40 years of experience representing injured maritime workers throughout Oregon, Alaska, Washington, and California. They serve the city of Tacoma from their Seattle, WA location, about 30 miles away from the city.
Under the Jones Act, there are certain requirements that an injured worker must meet in order to be considered eligible for filing a claim, so it is important to speak with our knowledgeable attorneys as soon as possible.
BoatLaw, LLP is a maritime injury law firm representing injured maritime workers, longshoremen, dock workers, and defense base employees nationwide. We fight for maximum compensation, even if your claim was previously denied. We are located at 1440 10th St Suite 102-C, Bellingham, WA 98225 (open in Google Maps) With decades of success in worker’s compensation, injury, and wrongful death cases, our experienced attorneys are ready to protect your rights. Call (360) 671-6711 today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation, or submit a contact form, and our legal team will reach out to you ASAP.
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“I have had the pleasure of working with Douglas Williams with Boat Law LLP on two separate occasions, and although the reasoning behind needing his services weren’t the greatest, he has always been extremely helpful and professional. He is very personable and knowledgable in Maritime Law which helps when dealing with very stressful situations. He is diligent and always gets back to you in a timely matter. In both instances working with him I have had favorable outcomes, in large part to Doug’s expertise. He is definitely the kind of lawyer you would like to have in your corner and that you can trust if you find yourself needing legal services.”
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Tacoma, Washington Jones Act Lawyer
Tacoma, Washington is a city located about 30 miles from Seattle. The city is located in Pierce County which is the county seat. Tacoma is also located on Washington’s Puget Sound which consists of interconnected marine waterways and basins with connections to the Pacific Ocean.
All sea vessels must pass through Admiralty Inlet in Washington, connecting the eastern end of Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound. Many people in this area are employed by the maritime industry and as a result may have a higher expectation of risk than many people who work on dry land.
Over the years, various maritime laws have been passed in order to better protect maritime workers who are injured on the job, for example, the Jones Act.
What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that covers injured seamen who get hurt on while in service of a vessel. The Jones Act requires a seaman’s employer to provide a reasonably safe environment to work under the circumstances.
This means that it is an employer’s duty to make sure that all employees are qualified to work a particular job, that there are enough workers to do a particular job, that workers are fully aware of all rules and regulations for doing a particular job, and that the working conditions are reasonably safe under the circumstances.
If an employer fails to provide this safe work environment, a worker may be entitled to compensation for damages that arose from the accident. Recovery from a maritime personal injury claim may include loss of wages, medical bills, and maintenance and cure.
Please note that under the Jones Act, only seamen are allowed to file for damages.
The injured worker must:
- Contribute to the mission or function of the vessel
- Have a substantial connection with the vessel in both duration and nature
- Work for a vessel in navigation
Areas We Serve in Tacoma, WA
The city of Tacoma encompasses many different area codes. Some popular neighborhoods we serve include:
- South Tacoma – 98409
- Upper Tacoma District Central – 98405
- West End – 98406, 98407
- McKinley Hill Eastside – 98404
- South End – 98408, 98418
- Parkland – 98444, 98447
- Old Town North End – 98403
- North End – 98402
- Tacoma – 98466
Tacoma, WA Jones Act Resources
Since the Jones Act is a Federal Statute, you can file a Jones Act claim in federal court. The “savings to suitors clause” provides that admiralty claims can be filed in state courts when the claimant also has a common law cause of action.
Listed below you will find information on courts in Tacoma, WA where you may file your maritime claim:
Tacoma Municipal Court City Courthouse
930 Tacoma Ave S #841
Tacoma, WA
(253) 591-5357
Pierce County District Court Courthouse
930 Tacoma Ave S #239,
Tacoma, WA
(253) 798-7487
U.S. District Court Federal Courthouse
1717 Pacific Ave,
Tacoma, WA
(253) 882-3800
Additional Resources
Maritime Claims Reference Manual – Visit the website of the U.S navy to view the Maritime Claims Reference Manual (MCRM) which provides details about the maritime claims of all countries throughout the world. It includes laws regulating territorial seas, contiguous zones between countries, maritime boundaries, and exclusive economic zones. The purpose of the manual is to facilitate the Department of Defense’s Freedom of Navigation Program.
MARAD – Find information about different maritime acts and programs on the Maritime Administration’s website. The Maritime Administration is an agency within the U.S Department of Transportation that deals with waterborne transportation.
Pierce County Jones Act Lawyer
If you or a loved one were injured in Tacoma, WA or surrounding areas please do not hesitate to contact our experienced attorneys as soon as possible. For your convenience, we have offices located throughout the Pacific Northwest in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California.
The attorneys at BOATLAW, LLP have a remarkable reputation for diligently representing maritime workers who have been injured at sea or onshore. Our lawyers provide honest and fair representation for injured maritime employees.
Contact the lawyers at BOATLAW, LLP by calling 1-800-262-8529 today for a free and confidential consultation.
This article was last updated on Friday, September 14, 2018.
