Boca Raton Maritime and Admiralty Law Attorneys

Understanding the Laws That Apply to Marine Accidents Allows Us to Help Victims Other Attorneys Can’t.

Boating accidents that take place in the ocean are covered by a set of statutes, known as maritime or admiralty law, that govern the use of the sea. Hundreds of countries follow maritime law, though rules and priorities vary between them. In the U.S., laws may even differ from state to state. Any accident or injury that happens on the ocean will invoke maritime law, so it’s important to have an attorney on your side who understands the local rules that will govern your claim.

Maritime law makes personal injury claims more complex and provides additional grounds on which an insurer can challenge a case. Jurisdictional disputes are common. This means your claim may be delayed or denied if your lawyer does not know how to work within the framework of maritime law.

Florida’s rules favor injury victims, allowing them to recover compensation for monetary and non-monetary damages as well as lasting disability. However, as with any insurance claim, maximizing your compensation may require a fight. Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen is here to advocate for you if you were injured by negligence on the ocean.

Start your case today by calling our lawyers at (866) 629-1061 for a free consultation. Our Boca Raton team is ready to formulate a strategy for your maritime claim.

Do I Need a Maritime Lawyer?

Just because an attorney has experience handling boat accident claims does not mean they understand maritime law. These statutes are separate from personal injury law, and most lawyers do not have cause to learn them. Because maritime law is so broad, you should ask your attorney about their experience with this type of claim. An attorney who does not fully understand its tenets might make serious mistakes that reduce your settlement or verdict.

We know the ins and outs of Florida’s maritime law and are well-positioned to help you bring a claim if you were injured on the ocean.

Maritime law applies to:

• Boating accidents caused by negligence
• Injury or death caused by defective or missing safety equipment
• Accidents such as falls that take place on a private or commercial ship
• Workplace injuries that happen on an industrial or commercial vessel

Consumers, workers, and private individuals all have options to recover compensation under Florida and American maritime law. In fact, because maritime law was crafted specifically to protect individuals from the additional dangers of negligence on the ocean, these statutes may grant you rights you would not have if you were injured on land.

What Do I Need to Know About Maritime Law?

You can trust our attorneys to know the nuances of maritime law as they relate to your case. However, injury victims should be aware of the various statutes of limitations that may apply to their claims:

• 46 U.S. Code § 30106, the time limit on bringing maritime action for personal injury or death, requires lawsuits to be filed within 3 years of the accident unless otherwise specified.
• The Death on the High Seas Act gives families 3 years after the death of a loved one to bring a case. This act covers any death, including fatal aircraft crashes, that occurs three or more nautical miles away from national shores.
• The Jones Act grants maritime employees the right to file a suit within 3 years of sustaining or discovering an injury due to employer negligence.
• The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act requires injured employees to file workers’ compensation claims within 1 year of their injury. This deadline also applies to the families of deceased maritime workers.
• Companies like cruise lines can further restrict the amount of time consumers have to bring a case. Many require lawsuits to be filed within 1 year of the injury or less.

The state of Florida has a 4-year statute of limitations of personal injury claims. However, Florida does not have jurisdiction over any ocean waters, even those right off the coast. Your lawsuit must be filed within the statute of limitations set forth by maritime law or a court can legally dismiss it.

We Know How to Win Maritime Cases

Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen is home to multiple skilled trial attorneys and a robust support staff who collaborate on each case. We are known for our strong arguments and effective presentation in front of judges and juries. Especially if you are looking for compensation from a big corporation or insurer, our attorneys can effectively go up against well-funded in-house teams. We also take complex and demanding cases that law firms with fewer resources and less experience cannot.

While you may be capable of handling a simple insurance claim, we advise anyone who is injured at sea to retain an experienced attorney to protect their right to compensation. Maritime law adds another layer of difficulty to the circuitous insurance claim process. We ensure our clients have the compassionate guidance they need. Our attorneys take the lead on everything from gathering evidence to submitting paperwork to communicating with your insurance adjuster. This means less work and stress for you and your loved ones.

To maximize your compensation after an accident covered by maritime law, you need an attorney who understands these statutes. Ask us how our past maritime law experience will serve your case.

Schedule your free consultation with one of our Boca Raton attorneys by calling (866) 629-1061. We know how to help injury victims mount successful maritime law claims.