What is the Death on the High Seas Act?

The Death on the High Seas Act, or "DOSHA," applies when someone is killed on the "high seas," which generally means 3 miles or more offshore. The DOSHA is contained in 46 USCS 761. The DOSHA limits recovery to "pecuniary loss" casued by the death. In some circumstances, the DOSHA may apply to aviation accidents that occur on the High Seas. In other words, it is not necessarily limited to ship, vessel, or boating accidents on the High Seas. The text of the DOSHA states as follows: § 761. Right of action; where and by whom brought Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring on the high seas beyond a marine league from the shore of any State, or the District of Columbia, or the Territories or dependencies of the United States, the personal representative of the decedent may maintain a suit for damages in the district courts of the United States, in admiralty, for the exclusive benefit of the decedent's wife, husband, parent, child, or dependent relative against the vessel, person, or corporation which would have been liable if death had not ensued. (Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 1, 41 Stat. 537.) § 762. Amount and apportionment of recovery The recovery in such suit shall be a fair and just compensation for the pecuniary loss sustained by the persons for whose benefit the suit is brought and shall be apportioned among them by the court in proportion to the loss they may severally have suffered by reason of the death of the person by whose representative the suit is brought. (Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 2, 41 Stat. 537.) § 763a. Statute of Limitations- Death on the High Seas Act Unless otherwise specified by law, a suit for recovery of damages for personal injury or death, or both, arising out of a maritime tort, shall not be maintained unless commenced within three years from the date the cause of action accrued. (Pub. L. 96-382, § 1, Oct. 6, 1980, 94 Stat. 1525.) § 764. Rights of action given by laws of foreign countries Whenever a right of action is granted by the law of any foreign State on account of death by wrongful act, neglect, or default occurring upon the high seas, such right may be maintained in an appropriate action in admiralty in the courts of the United States without abatement in respect to the amount for which recovery is authorized, any statute of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding. (Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 4, 41 Stat. 537.) § 765. Death of plaintiff pending action If a person die 1 as the result of such wrongful act, neglect, or default as is mentioned in section 761 of this Appendix during the pendency in a court of admiralty of the United States of a suit to recover damages for personal injuries in respect of such act, neglect, or default, the personal representative of the decedent may be substituted as a party and the suit may proceed as a suit under this chapter for the recovery of the compensation provided in section 762 of this Appendix. (Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 5, 41 Stat. 537.) § 766. Contributory Negligence In suits under this chapter the fact that the decedent has been guilty of contributory negligence shall not bar recovery, but the court shall take into consideration the degree of negligence attributable to the decedent and reduce the recovery accordingly. (Mar. 30, 1920, ch. 111, § 6, 41 Stat. 537.) § 767. Exceptions from operation of chapter The provisions of any State statute giving or regulating rights of action or remedies for death shall not be affected by this chapter. Nor shall this chapter apply to the Great Lakes or to any waters within the territorial limits of any State, or to any navigable waters in the Panama Canal Zone.