Maritime crewmembers have certain rights under Federal law designed to protect them from unfair treatment by vessel owners. Vessel owners in this sense could refer to the owner of a particular ship or the controlling entity of a whole line of vessels, such as a cruise line. Regardless, crewmembers are legally protected from unfair termination and retaliation by their own specific set of laws.
The laws that govern crewmember treatment and...
Maritime injuries or those occurring on navigable waters differ significantly from land injuries not only in type but also in options for recovery. The legal process for recovery after a maritime injury is governed by a specific set of laws known as maritime or “admiralty” laws and often involve stricter regulations that can make filing a claim difficult without the help of a maritime lawyer.
For example, maritime injury claims must typically...
In any job that requires manual labor and even many that don’t, injuries are a possibility. However, the possibility of injury can be greatly reduced with proper attention to and enforcement of industry safety regulations. Commercial fishing in particular is considered one of the most challenging occupations in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). From hazardous working conditions to long hours, harsh weather,...
Maritime or admiralty law governs all rights, laws, and disputes which occur while on navigable waters; “navigable waters” in this case refers to any waters being used for foreign or interstate commerce. The maritime workers who contribute to this important part of the global and national economy are referred to as crewmembers and are entitled to certain rights and protections. Maritime employers are required to respect and protect those...
In most cases, when someone suffers an injury as the result of another party’s negligent or intentional conduct, the injured party can reach out to a personal injury attorney to file a claim. However, if the injury occurred on the water, the process could be notably different. For instance, when someone is injured on the water, they will need to seek out a maritime or “admiralty” law attorney to take their case.
Maritime law governs any...
Cruise ship and other tourist injuries are not uncommon. While thankfully many of these injuries can be mitigated and even prevented with proper attention to safety, if someone suffers a significant injury while on the ocean due to the negligence of another party, a maritime injury claim may present an avenue for recovery. While an ocean injury case has many similarities to a personal injury case that occurs on land, there are important...
Conservationists have filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service over delays in increasing boating speed restrictions that would protect the near-extinct right whales. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include the Center For Biological Diversity, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Conservation Law Foundation.
Right whales are one of the world’s most endangered large whale species.
The North Atlantic right...
Cruise line and sea vessel owners have certain responsibilities when it comes to the treatment of their crewmembers. These and other responsibilities are included in maritime or “admiralty” law, a unique set of laws that applies to events that occur on vessels traveling through navigable waters.
The Jones Act, sometimes referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is designed to protect the well-being of crewmembers who become sick or...