Maritime Law Lawyers

What Is Maritime Law?

Maritime Law, also known as Admiralty Law, is a specific branch of law governing all nautical matters, including shipping, commerce on navigable waters (oceans, large lakes, and rivers used for trade), and navigation. They operate under unique legal principles, separate from personal injury or business law. They are primarily governed by federal courts to bring uniformity across the nation. Maritime law mainly deals with matters involving protection for seamen, dictates rules for cargo disputes, and ensures vessel safety.

Key Areas Of Maritime Law

Maritime lawyers handle specialized matters involving accidents, injuries, and commercial disputes related to vessels and the water. The core areas are as follows:

• Seaman Injury Claims: Protecting the rights of maritime workers (e.g., offshore rig workers, cruise ship crew) injured on the job, primarily through the Jones Act. Helps them to get monetary claims.
• Maintenance and Cure: Ensuring injured seamen receive payment for living expenses and medical care until they reach maximum medical improvement, regardless of fault.
• Vessel Collisions and Allision: Litigation involving two or more vessels colliding, or a vessel hitting a stationary object (like a dock or bridge).
• Cargo and Commercial Disputes: Claims involving damaged, lost, or delayed cargo, charter agreements, and disputes over shipping contracts.
• Salvage and General Average: Handling compensation claims when a vessel or its cargo is saved from peril, and distributing liability for losses across all parties involved.
• Cruise Ship Injuries: Representing passengers injured due to negligence or unseaworthy conditions aboard cruise ships.

Primary Federal Laws Governing Maritime Law

Maritime Law is a part of federal laws enacted by Congress, which often override most state-level regulations:

• The Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920): This provision allows seamen injured by negligence of the employer or vessel to seek monetary damages from their employer.
• Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Its provisions provide no-fault compensation benefits for maritime workers injured on navigable waters or adjacent areas (e.g., docks, terminals) who are not classified as seamen.
• Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): It is a remedy for the families of individuals killed on the high seas (more than three nautical miles from shore) due to negligence or wrongful act.
• Title 46 of the U.S. Code (Shipping): It is the main compilation of federal laws governing U.S. shipping and navigation.
• Admiralty Jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1333): It grants federal district courts original jurisdiction over all admiralty or maritime claims.

When To Hire A Maritime Lawyer?

Maritime law is entirely different from land-based law; in many cases, the same word is classified differently. It is a highly specialized area, and you should consider hiring a maritime lawyer immediately when:

• Injury on a Vessel: If you were injured while working on a ship, offshore platform, or dock, and your employer is disputing your claim or offering minimal compensation.
• Maintenance and Cure Denial: When your employer has refused to pay for your medical treatment or living expenses after an on-the-job injury.
• Cargo Loss: Your valuable shipment was damaged or lost while being transported by sea, and instead of fulfilling the damages, the carrier is denying liability.
• Vessel Arrest/Lien: When you need to enforce or defend against a maritime lien (a claim against the vessel itself) for services, supplies, or damages.
• Cruise Ship Accident: You or a family member suffered a serious injury as a passenger on a cruise line. As ticket contracts often impose very short deadlines for filing suit (often one year), it is advised to contact a specialized maritime lawyer for assistance in this matter.

How To Find The Best Maritime Lawyer In The United States?

Finding a proficient maritime attorney in the United States that can help you settle your complex claim is a challenging task, but with the proper assistance from Legably, you can select the best maritime attorney in the United States within a few minutes. Our extensive lawyer database allows you to search attorneys based on their expertise, such as “Maritime Law,” “Admiralty Law,” or "Jones Act Claims." Then you can filter results by your location. This efficient search process will provide you with a list of expert maritime lawyers near you, including their contact details for your immediate consultation.

What Questions Should I Ask the U.S. Maritime Attorney?

During the first meeting with your maritime lawyers, asking these questions will help you decide whether this attorney is right for you or not. These questions are:

• How many Jones Act or LHWCA claims have you successfully handled?
• Do you have experience dealing with this specific shipping company or cruise line?
• What is the statute of limitations for my claim, particularly if I was a passenger?
• Will my case be filed in state or federal court, and why?
• How will we prove the vessel was unseaworthy or the company was negligent?