Jones Act Attorney in Las Vegas

Trial-Ready Maritime Injury Representation for Seamen & Offshore Workers

Maritime workers injured by employer negligence or unsafe vessel conditions have federal rights that go far beyond ordinary workers’ compensation. The Jones Act gives injured seamen the right to sue their employer for negligence and to go after a vessel owner for unseaworthiness. At Cohan PLLC, seasoned trial attorney Chasen Cohan represents maritime workers and their families throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, and Enterprise who need a firm ready to fight, not just settle.

Our motto says it plainly: to give you a voice, to fight for you, to figure it out, to be on your side, and to hold them accountable. That’s how we approach every Jones Act case we take on.

If you or a family member was injured working aboard a vessel, call us today at (702) 623-3579 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We serve clients across the Las Vegas area and handle cases in both English and Spanish.

Do You Qualify as a Jones Act Seaman?

Qualifying for Jones Act protection depends on a legal test established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Chandris v. Latsis. Under that standard, a maritime worker generally must spend at least 30% of their work time aboard a vessel in navigation, and their duties must contribute to the vessel’s function. Deckhands, engineers, mates, and crew aboard tugboats, barges, ferries, and offshore supply vessels commonly meet this definition.

First, the vessel doesn’t need to be moving at the moment of injury. Second, “navigable waters” isn’t limited to the ocean. Federal admiralty jurisdiction covers inland waterways too, including Lake Mead and the Colorado River, so a maritime injury on those waters near Las Vegas can qualify as a federal admiralty claim. That said, many of the seamen that we can represent are injured on vessels operating offshore, along the coast, or across state lines. The claim doesn’t need to originate locally.

Why Las Vegas Maritime Workers Choose Cohan PLLC

Chasen Cohan is a Las Vegas native who knows the Eighth Judicial District Court, the local insurance defenses common in this region, and the community dynamics that shape how cases are heard. A Jones Act seaman can file a negligence claim in either state or federal court, and that choice matters. We evaluate each case with that decision in mind from day one.

We prepare every case for trial. It means we build the evidence file, develop the theory of liability, and line up the support needed to stand before a jury if the employer won’t offer fair value. Our trial-ready record has earned us referrals from other law firms and attorneys across the region.