FAQs
Injured at sea, including commercial and personal boats.
A maritime injury, also known as a maritime or admiralty injury, refers to an injury that occurs on navigable waters, such as oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. These injuries typically involve individuals who work in or around maritime industries, including seafarers, dockworkers, offshore oil rig workers, and others involved in maritime-related activities. Maritime injuries are subject to specific laws and regulations that differ from those governing injuries on land. Here are key points to understand about maritime injuries:
- Types of Maritime Injuries: Maritime injuries can result from various accidents and incidents, including:
- Boating accidents: These can involve commercial vessels, recreational boats, or other watercraft and may result in injuries to passengers or crew members.
- Ship and vessel accidents: Workers on cargo ships, fishing vessels, cruise ships, and other types of boats can be injured due to collisions, fires, explosions, or other maritime accidents.
- Offshore injuries: Workers on offshore oil rigs, drilling platforms, and other offshore facilities can suffer injuries due to the inherent risks associated with their work, such as equipment failures, slips, falls, and exposure to hazardous materials.
- Dock and port accidents: Dockworkers, longshoremen, and harbor workers may experience injuries while loading and unloading cargo, operating heavy machinery, or working in confined spaces.
- Diving accidents: Commercial divers or underwater construction workers may face injuries while performing underwater tasks, including decompression sickness and equipment malfunctions.
- Applicable Laws: Maritime injury cases are typically governed by a combination of federal and international laws and regulations, including:
- Jones Act: The Jones Act is a federal law that provides legal protections and remedies for seamen who are injured while working aboard vessels. Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can file lawsuits against their employers for negligence.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): This federal law provides compensation and medical benefits to longshoremen, harbor workers, and other maritime employees who are injured on the job.
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): DOHSA allows certain family members to file wrongful death claims when a loved one dies due to a wrongful act or negligence on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the U.S. coastline.
- International Maritime Conventions: International conventions and agreements, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), also play a role in regulating maritime safety and injury compensation.
- Compensation: Injured maritime workers are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, depending on the specific circumstances of their injury and the applicable laws.
- Importance of Legal Representation: Maritime injury cases can be complex due to the unique legal framework and potential involvement of multiple parties. It is often essential for injured maritime workers to seek legal representation from attorneys experienced in admiralty and maritime law to navigate the complexities of their cases.
Maritime injuries can have serious consequences, and the laws surrounding these injuries are designed to protect the rights and well-being of maritime workers and passengers. If you have been injured in a maritime accident, it is crucial to consult with an attorney who specializes in maritime law to understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive.
You can seek compensation for your losses, including medical expenses and related losses sustained.