Negligence and unseaworthiness are often factors in vessel collisions. Whether the ship collided with a rock or with another ship, the collision is usually avoidable. Common causes of collisions at sea include:
Because of the serious and complicated nature of a ship collision, hiring experienced maritime counsel is the key to obtaining the maximum money recovery for your injuries. If you are a maritime worker and the collision injured you during the course of your employment, hiring an experienced maritime and Jones Act attorney can ensure that you receive all the benefits to which you are entitled, including maintenance and cure.
If you were injured in a collision as a passenger on a cruise, ferry or personal watercraft, other federal maritime laws may apply. Maritime law is complicated, and hiring an attorney with little or no experience with maritime law and federal courts could cost you. Additionally, the owner of the vessel has the option to file a Petition for Limitation of Liability, which would allow the owner to limit your recovery to the value of the vessel at the time of the accident, which in many collisions is zero due to the fact that the vessel it is sitting on the bottom of the ocean.
A maritime attorney knows the specific laws that apply and the best way to maximize damages whether under state or federal law depending on the location of the sinking and whether the accident was fatal. The location of the accident, the victim’s status as a passenger or employee and the victim’s number of dependents can affect the type of damages to which the victim or his family is entitled, from pain and suffering to wage loss.
The maritime attorneys at Latti Associates LLC have been involved in many high profile ship collision cases, including the case of the F/V STARBOUND-M/T VIRGO collision, so we know how to effectively obtain the highest damages award available under the maritime law. Contact our maritime trial lawyers to tell us about your case. We represent clients nationwide.
