Working at sea carries inherent risks, but seamen should never have to put their lives on the line due to unsafe, defective, or poorly maintained equipment. Under general maritime law, shipowners owe an absolute, non-delegable duty to provide crew members with a seaworthy vessel. When an unseaworthy condition leads to an accident, the vessel owner…
What should an injured maritime worker do after an accident? Understanding common maritime worker mistakes and how to avoid them can make or break your ability to recover full compensation. An injured mariner must immediately report the injury to their vessel supervisor, seek independent medical evaluation from a physician of their own choosing, and consult…
The waters off Southern California are an economic engine, packed with commercial fishing trawlers, tugboats, shipping vessels, and heavy naval activity. But for the crewmembers, longshoremen, and harbor workers who keep San Diego Bay moving, the sea is as dangerous as it is productive. A single mechanical failure, rogue wave, or supervisor’s oversight can lead…
If you are a seaman who has been injured at sea, you may have more legal options available to you than you realize. Beyond the well-known Jones Act, maritime law provides another powerful avenue for injured crew members: the unseaworthiness doctrine. Understanding this doctrine (what it means, how it works, and what damages you can…
Every year, thousands of passengers board whale watching tours in the San Juan Islands, dinner cruises on Puget Sound, or fishing charters out of coastal ports like Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, expecting nothing more than a memorable day on the water. But accidents happen. When they do, corporate vessel operators count…
After a serious maritime accident, the path to recovery can seem overwhelming. You’re facing physical pain, emotional stress, and a growing stack of medical bills. A critical question arises: How do you quantify the full impact of an injury? At BoatLaw, LLP, we understand that a fair recovery goes far beyond simply adding up receipts….
What Are Jones Act Damages? Jones Act damages are the financial compensation injured maritime workers, such as fishermen, deckhands, and processors, can legally recover after being hurt at sea due to employer negligence. Unlike standard land-based workers’ compensation, these damages explicitly cover pain and suffering, lost future earning capacity, and past medical expenses. A serious…
Suffering an injury aboard a commercial vessel is a jarring, chaotic experience. Out on the water, whether you are pulling pots in Alaska, handling lines on a Columbia River tug, or working the deck of a factory trawler in the Pacific Northwest, the line between a minor mishap and a career-ending injury is razor-thin. An…
An injury at sea is always a serious matter, but when the vessel involved is owned or operated by the United States government, the legal path to compensation becomes significantly more complex. Standard maritime laws like the Jones Act do not apply in the same way. Instead, injured seamen must navigate a different set of…
Summary A policy limit demand is a strategic legal tool used to demand the full amount of an insurance policy to settle a claim where an insured defendant likely faces exposure to liability exceeding the policy limits. This demand places a duty of good faith on the insurer to protect its insured (the vessel owner)…
