What is Jones Act Negligence? Jones Act Negligence is a legal standard that allows “seamen” to sue their employers for personal injury damages caused by the employer’s failure to provide a reasonably safe work environment. Unlike standard workers’ compensation, which is “no-fault,” a Jones Act claim requires proving that the employer’s negligence played a part—no…
The maritime industry is a global enterprise, powered by hardworking men and women from every corner of the world. A common and dangerous misconception, however, is that the powerful legal protections afforded to injured seamen under United States law are reserved exclusively for American citizens. This is not the case. Many foreign maritime workers who…
What Are Waiver Agreements in Recreational Boating? As an attorney focused on maritime and admiralty law, I often speak with individuals who have been injured on the water. A common thread in these conversations is a sense of hopelessness because they remember signing a waiver before their activity began. Whether it was for a jet…
When an injury occurs on the water, one of the first questions our legal team will ask is: where did it happen? We don’t ask this question only out of curiosity – in maritime law, where an incident takes place is critical to the determination of whether the injured party’s case will be governed by…
Maritime law is a field of law that is as vast and deep as the waters it governs. Unlike laws that are confined by state or even national borders, maritime law, also known as admiralty law, is a unique and complex legal framework with ancient roots, designed to resolve disputes that occur on navigable waters….
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)…
Wind energy accident claims, whether onshore wind farms or offshore wind projects, involve a complex overlap of maritime law, energy regulation, construction liability, personal injury, products liability, and insurance coverage. The law firms that successfully handle these cases, especially catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, are a relatively small and specialized group. Choosing the right legal…
Understanding where maritime laws apply is one of the most confusing and important questions injured maritime workers and their families face. Maritime law does not follow simple state boundaries. Instead, it depends on geography, vessel status, worker classification, and the specific statute involved. The answer can change dramatically based on whether an injury happens on…
If you are wondering what a maritime lawyer does, the short answer is this (at least in the context of maritime personal injury cases): a maritime lawyer helps injured mariners understand and enforce their rights under maritime law when an accident happens on navigable waters or in maritime work. That can include injured seamen, deckhands,…
