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Maritime Accidents
Maritime Law is the area of our legal system that covers incidents that occur on the water. Among other things, it encompasses individuals who are injured on a boat whether a member of the crew or a passenger. It also covers longshoremen, offshore oil field workers, and just about any other individual injured on a boat, rig or dock.
Maritime Law includes:
- Jones Act - The Jones Act allows seamen who have been injured by the negligence of their employers or co-workers to bring a claim against their employers for loss wages, medical bills, pain and suffering.
- Unseaworthiness Claims - Unseaworthiness claims apply to injuries that are caused by a vessel or any of its parts or machinery that are not reasonably fit for their intended use. A vessel can also be unseaworthy if the vessel's crew are not reasonably competent or skilled to perform the assigned work. Under the Jones Act, a vessel owner has a duty to provide and maintain a seaworthy vessel.
- Death on the High Seas (DOHSA) - DOHSA is a Federal law that allows a surviving spouse of seamen to recover damages for their spouse's future earnings.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) - The LHWCA fills the gap between the Jones Act and state worker's compensation laws. This law provides protection to non-seamen who are injured on navigable water.
If you or your loved one has been injured on or near the water, contact the Law Offices of Morice Law Firm to ensure that your rights are protected.