What You Need to Know about General Maritime Law

After a maritime accident, it can be confusing trying to determine your legal rights. There are various laws, but you may be wondering which one applies to you. If you work within the maritime industry, you need to be aware of general maritime law.

General maritime law has been around for hundreds of years and refers to a body of federal law that regulates accidents and injuries that take place near or on the water. This law provides additional remedies for injured maritime workers and their family members. It allows injured seamen to pursue damages outside the Jones Act, which is another federal law. General maritime law also gives rights to workers involved in maritime activities, who are not considered seamen.

If you are injured in an offshore accident, in some situations you may be able to pursue a general maritime law claim. You may be able to hold someone liable for your maritime injuries if he or she did not act “reasonably” given the circumstances. This is known as the “reasonable person” or “reasonable company” standard.

General maritime claims include those against non-employer third parties. For example, if a third party was negligent and the negligence contributed to a maritime injury or death, a general maritime claim can be brought against that person.

There is a statute of limitations to file a general maritime claim. Basically, an injured worker has three years from the date of the accident, but there are some factors that will cause the statute of limitations to be even shorter. That is why you should contact a maritime attorney immediately following an accident.

Contact the Houston law offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, L.L.P. at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 for a legal consultation. We will review your case to help you determine whether your claim is a general maritime claim, Jones Act claim or a Longshore and Harbor Workers claim. Our maritime lawyers can also help you determine the amount of compensation in which you deserve. Don’t wait to seek legal advice. Call us today.