A maritime lawyer specializes in maritime law, including admiralty law and international maritime law. In addition, maritime lawyers can practice law in specific areas, such as assisting maritime workers and seamen when injured on the job or representing the interests of cruise ship passengers injured while on vacation.
Some maritime attorneys help with contract negotiations between vessel owners and third-party operators. They can also represent interests for major corporations that operate in the maritime industry like oil and gas companies, commercial fishing vessels, harbor and dock workers, cargo shipping companies, and cruise lines.
The types of legal services and legal issues maritime lawyers can assist you with depends on their specific practice area. For example, most individuals will need a maritime attorney after being injured in a maritime accident.
How can a maritime lawyer protect you and your interests?
After sustaining an injury while on the job, maritime workers have specific protections through maritime laws, including the Jones Act and maintenance and cure payments. However, understanding these rights can be challenging.
Some employers may attempt to get out of their responsibilities or make the employee admit the accident was their fault, so they believe they have no grounds to seek compensation. By consulting with a maritime lawyer following an accident where you are injured, you quickly learn about your rights and what compensation you could be entitled to claim.
Next, when retaining a maritime law firm to represent you, you get the assistance you need with filing your injury claim. Your lawyer negotiates with the insurance company to ensure you get the compensation you are entitled to receive. They are also willing to take your case to arbitration or trial if necessary.
In addition, depending on your position in the maritime industry, location of work, and other factors, you could be entitled to file an injury claim and may not even realize it. By taking the time to consult with a maritime attorney, you could discover you have grounds to seek compensation.
What are the benefits of hiring a lawyer that specializes in maritime law?
For starters, your lawyer will be familiar with all aspects of maritime law, the Jones Act, maintenance and cure payments, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, and open water and international laws. Using this knowledge, your attorney can help you through the injury claim process.
Furthermore, your lawyer can often negotiate a much larger settlement than you could obtain on your own. Even after your lawyer takes their payment from your settlement, you walk away with more compensation than attempting to negotiate your own settlement.
What do I look for when hiring a maritime lawyer?
When you need to hire a maritime lawyer, you should look for the following:
- Number of Years Experience in Maritime Law
- Where They Represent Maritime Workers
- Number of Maritime Workers Represented
- Their Case Results
- Only Represents Injured Parties
- Bills on a Contingency Fee Basis
At Maintenance and Cure, which is part of the Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. law firm, our maritime lawyers represent our clients’ interests and provide the following:
- Each of our lawyers has over 25 years of experience in maritime law, with more than 145 years of combined maritime trial experience.
- We only represent injured maritime workers nationwide.
- We offer a free initial consultation and bill on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe us any fees until we settle your claim or win at trial.
- We have represented thousands of injured maritime workers and their families since 1964.
- We have recovered the largest single Jones Act injury claim settlement in the United States.
To schedule your free consultation to discuss your maritime injury and discover your rights, please feel free to contact Maintenance and Cure at 800-836-5830 today!
