Maritime Accidents Articles

Because the Jones Act provides special protections and damages for injured seamen, many injured people wonder whether they qualify as a “seaman” under the Jones Act. That determination should be made by a competent maritime attorney because the law controlling seaman status can vary slightly based on where the accident happened and where the lawsuit…

When a seaman passes away while working offshore, one of the last things that families should have to concern themselves with is who will pay for funeral expenses and take responsibility for the financial contributions that the deceased seaman would have continued to make to the family had the accident and death not occurred. Unfortunately,…

Vessel owners and employers are required to report any maritime injury that requires more than basic first aid and makes the injured seaman unable to perform his work. Oftentimes seamen and offshore workers are directly or indirectly told by their supervisors not to fill out an incident report. This happens for a variety of reasons….

General maritime law provides injured seamen with a “trinity” of rights against employers and shipowners. First, maintenance and cure requires that the employers and shipowners of injured seamen pay for accident-related medical care and an amount for room and board. Second, when the unseaworthiness of the vessel or its crew cause the seamen’s injury, then…

If you find yourself asking whether you need a maritime injury attorney, the answer is most likely yes. Maritime and offshore accidents involve different sets of laws than other personal injury or workers’ compensation claims. Depending on the case, there is often a complex framework of federal, state, and sometimes international laws that govern an…

On October 1, 2015, the El Faro sank near the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. Thirty-three crewmembers perished. Investigations since the accident have raised questions over whether the vessel was seaworthy and why it would sail into the path of a category four hurricane. The vessel is known to have experienced engine failure before her disappearance….

Numerous vacationers are stricken each year with illness or injury while traveling aboard cruise liners. Recently, outbreaks of norovirus aboard cruise liners have brought to light inadequate sanitation, cleanliness, and training of cruise liner employees. The Centers for Disease Control tracks norovirus outbreaks for international cruises lasting longer than three days where more than 3%…

According to the United States Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, more than 4,000 recreational boating accidents have been reported in each of the past five years. Recreational boating accidents occur year round and may involve jet skis, fishing boats, cruise ships, kayaks, canoes, and many other types of boating vessels. In 2014, which…