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We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Boat Sinking Accidents and the Limitation of Liability Act

Today, a tugboat owned by Kinder Morgan sank in the Houston Ship Channel. Read the news story by clicking here.

It got me to thinking about an aspect of maritime law that most tugboat employees probably don't realize, and that probably most attorneys don't realize either.

Under maritime law, when there is a boat accident, the boat owner is permitted to file a lawsuit in federal court called a "Limitation of Liability" proceeding. The Limitation of Liability proceeding is the boat owner's effort to eliminate any legal claims by injured employees or to "cap" any legal damages to the value of the boat and her cargo (and if the boat is at the bottom of the ocean, it's worth very little).

There are legal strategies known to experienced maritime lawyers which enable injured employees to recover more than the value of the boat. However, the legal rules governing such claims are very, very complex.

I once had a lawyer call me about a case for an injured boat captain. The company had filed a Limitation of Liability proceeding. This lawyer had tried to help the boat captain on his own, but had never worked on a maritime case involving a Limitation of Liability proceeding.

By the time this lawyer called me, it was almost too late to help the boat captain. Fortunately, I was able to defeat the limitation proceeding and obtain a substantial settlement for the injured boat captain, but it was a close call.

If you have been involved in a series marine accident on a boat, or if a loved one has been killed, do not wait to discuss your legal options with an experienced maritime lawyer. Otherwise, there is a very real possibility that you will lose your rights to obtain any compensation, or fair compensation.




Injured? - We Can Help

If you have been injured in a maritime accident, we recommend that you do your research.  All too often, the company will try to trick you into signing away your legal rights, ask you to give a recorded statement that will hurt your case, force you to see company doctors, or steer you in the wrong direction.  Below is a list of resources we provide to injured maritime employees for FREE.

Free Book Written By Board Certified Injury Attorney Brian Beckcom


Click here to get a Free Copy of Mr. Beckcom's Book, The Insider's Guide To Winning Your Maritime Injury Case

Click Here to Research Your Case Using www.TheMaritimeLawyer.com

Helpful Internet Articles

Click on the links below to read these helpful articles on maritime injury cases.

Read The Jones Act

Calculating Jones Act Settlements

Financial Insecurity After A Maritime Injury

Am I Required To See A Company Doctor?

Should I Give My Employer A Recorded Statement?


Hiring The Best Attorney For Your Case

What To Expect In A Jones Act Injury Case






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