Does the Jones Act Cover Riverboat Businesses?

free case evaluation
100% Secure and Confidential
Rated 5 Stars
5.0 Google Rated
Does the Jones Act Cover Riverboat Businesses?

Helping Injured People Get Resultsunderline background

$7M

Product Liability

$31M

Medical Malpractice

$5.75M

Product Liability

i-classactionsThe Mississippi River that divides Illinois from Missouri is famous for its shipping industry, riverboats and riverboat casinos. Spending an evening playing blackjack or seeing a show on a floating casino can be a lot of fun. However, workers aboard these vessels are in a unique position when it comes to state and federal laws. Riverboat casinos may seem like ships, which are governed by maritime laws like the Jones Act, but depending on where they are and how they are used, those laws may not apply.

Maritime law is a unique and sometimes confusing aspect of the legal system. Laws like the Jones Act were created to protect maritime workers, since it was found that large bodies of water like rivers and oceans don’t fall under just one state’s jurisdiction. Therefore, maritime law is overseen by the federal government and provides special protections for those who work on the water. However, the definition of who technically works on the water has been interpreted and reinterpreted many times since the Jones Act became law.

What Vessels Qualify Under the Jones Act?

 The Jones Act actually contains three separate federal laws that provide protections for workers who are injured on a vessel on the water. The language of the law may seem simple, but with the dozens of different kinds of watercraft on all sorts of bodies of water throughout the U.S., the federal courts have had to deal with many cases concerning the protections of the Jones Act over the years. Most often, these cases involve questions about what counts as a “vessel” and who counts as a “maritime worker”.

One of the most recent rulings about the coverage of the Jones Act concerned riverboat casinos. A bartender, for example, who works aboard a riverboat casino might seem like a mariner because his job is on a boat, which is on the water. If that bartender is injured, however, his ability to seek compensation under the Jones Act will typically depend on one thing: whether or not the riverboat casino moves.

The Jones Act applies to a riverboat casino, or any other kind of watercraft, only if it navigates the river. If it is permanently or semi-permanently docked at a marina or other port, then it is legally considered to be dry land and all state workers’ compensation laws will apply to its employees. Virtually all riverboat casinos on the Mississippi are permanently moored for this reason. The Jones Act generally provides much more protection and compensation to injured workers than many states’ workers’ compensation laws, so most casino businesses choose to avoid maritime law by keeping their riverboats docked.

Our Missouri and Illinois personal injury lawyers have experience representing injured riverboat casino workers. Call one of our offices to schedule a free consultation today.

Awards & Recognition

We’re a Midwest-based law firm, small by choice, with big impact. At Walton Telken, our mission is simple: achieve the best possible outcomes for each of our clients. Powered by our passion for victims’ rights and 150 years of combined legal experience, we work hard towards this goal every day—and we have the track record to prove it.

Free Initial Consultations.

No Fee Unless We Win.underline background

We’re here to help recover maximum monetary damages to compensate you for your physical, financial and emotional losses. The personal injury lawyers at our firm understand your concerns and are committed to responding to your needs with strong advocacy and legal counsel. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your personal injury or work-related injury claim at one of our office locations in Illinois or Missouri.

At Walton Telken, trial practice is core to our DNA. We’re unafraid to fight on your behalf aggressively to ensure you recover the monetary damages you deserve.

100% Secure and Confidential

Our Locations

Google Map of 241 N Main St Edwardsville IL

Edwardsville, IL

241 N Main St, Edwardsville IL 62025
618-272-2284
Google Map of 214 N Clay Ave Suite 140 St. Louis MO

St. Louis, MO

214 N Clay Ave Suite 140, St. Louis MO 63122
314-441-7133

Available 24/7

phone icon844-307-7349

"*" indicates required fields

Our Award-winning attorneys will contact you for a free case evaluation.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
100% Secure and Confidential