Admiralty Lawyers Defend Your Rights For Injuries At Sea

Maritime Law Is Very Specialized For Today's World Commerce

International maritime law is some of the oldest, most studied, and most respected law in the world today. In fact, some of the very first references come to us from Islamic traditions established during Roman times by early admiralty lawyers. In ancient Rome, sailors were paid by rank, according to the profit of the venture that their ship undertook. Therefore, the more profit a ship pulled in, the more each person made. However, the lowest-ranked sailors on the ship could end up making very little, even if there was a large profit. But Islamic clerics, acting as admiralty lawyers, instituted laws requiring that sailors be given a pre-determined wage. They also required that the money be paid before going out to sea, with the stipulation that sailors would return portions if they abandoned or quit early.

Of course, things have changed since then, and there are currently many different legal regulations and precedents on the books when it comes to employee rights and personal injury issues. Today’s admiralty lawyers are very specialized, as they cannot simply rely on established workers' compensation and negligence laws. Although the issues are quite similar, if a tragedy occurs on open waters, there are many national and international matters that must first be sorted out. If you are seeking help for your legal issue, make sure that you contact a qualified maritime injury attorney that deals with the following areas.

If your accident or injury took place on a vessel travelling strictly between two U. S. ports, the Jones Act states that the vessel must be of U. S. origin and construction, and staffed and run by U. S. citizens. This means that your suit will be filed in the United States, according to U.S. law in the local jurisdiction. In this case, you should have about 3 years to bring your suits against the boat operator. However, it is possible that if you were on a cruise ship when the accident occurred, you may only have one year. Be sure you keep your cruise ticket, as it should list the regulations that determine some of your rights.

However, if your injury took place on a boat that was not made, owned, or operated by a company in the United States, or if you were in international waters, maritime lawyers will have to determine which laws will affect you. The first task is for admiralty lawyers to determine vessel nationality, which is more complicated than it may seem.

Even under international law, however, you should be able to sue a company for the following issues.

Maintenance – Victims have the right to full living expenses while they are injured, including rent, utilities, travel, and more.
Cure – Patients are entitled to all funds needed to pay medical expenses, as long as they improve the overall ability to function.
Liens – If an owner or operator is unable to pay damages, a victim may place a lien against the vessel, as long as it is seized by law enforcement. In the United States, such actions must be brought in federal court.

If you have any questions at all about your legal rights, contact a qualified law firm today. LegalTube can help you find a legal professional with experience in these specific issues.