Admiralty law firms are usually based in coastal locations
such as Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Norfolk, Houston,
San Diego, etc., but well-established admiralty law firms are also found
inland at sites such as Chicago, St. Louis, Rochester and elsewhere.
Training in Admiralty Law
Many admiralty law firms represent individuals and families who have
suffered harm in a maritime incident. The attorneys who provide such
legal counsel and representation have special training in admiralty law, which is a distinct field of law not offered by
most firms.
For example, there are thousands of law firms across the United
States that practice:
- Personal injury law — helping individuals who are injured or made
ill by the negligence or recklessness of another party (such as in
medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, exposure to toxins, and more)
- Workers' compensation law — representing the interests of people
who have been injured on the job or made ill by conditions at their work
place
- Product liability law — when someone is hurt by a product that is
defective or dangerous
Admiralty Law Is Distinct
However, an attorney's knowledge and experience in these legal areas
alone do not encompass admiralty law. Any accident or injury
experienced "on the high seas" or on navigable waters needs to be dealt
with by an admiralty law firm, because of the
specialized nature of this field.
There are no state workers' compensation systems for individuals who
work as merchant marines or sailors, for example; rather, there is a
federal law (the Jones Act) that provides "workers' comp" benefits for
injured seamen. The Jones Act is a rather complex matter, with many distinctions
regarding the definitions of "seaman," "vessel," and much more.
Jones Act Benefits
When a seaman is injured in the line of work, an admiralty law firm
uses the Jones Act to obtain benefits that may include:
- maintenance, or weekly income that compensates for income lost
due to the injury
- cure, or medical care for the injury or illness
- personal Injury damages, or compensation for
impairment/disability, fringe benefit loss, rehabilitation, occupational
therapy, retraining costs, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life,
and more
Contact an Admiralty Law Firm Near You
If an injury or illness related to a maritime incident has befallen
you or your family member, it is essential to consult an admiralty attorney with experience in
these types of cases. To schedule a free consultation to discuss the
circumstances of your case, contact an admiralty lawyer
today.
