Fort Lauderdale Maritime Accident Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured in an accident off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, FL? You may have a valid maritime accident claim for compensation. An experienced Fort Lauderdale maritime accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and the laws that govern your case.

At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we have over 28 years of experience handling complex personal injury injury claims like yours. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our efforts.

When you understand your legal rights, you greatly increase your chances of recovering fair compensation. Contact our law offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at (954) 287-0566 to schedule a free consultation to get the legal advice you deserve.

How Can Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Help After a Maritime Accident in Fort Lauderdale?

How Can Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Help After a Maritime Accident in Fort Lauderdale?

Maritime workers always run the risk of being hurt on the job. The high seas and adjacent lands can be dangerous. If you were injured, you deserve all of the compensation available under the law.

Still, recovering fair compensation can be challenging. It’s not as simple as filing a workers’ compensation claim or claim with insurance. Having an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney by your side can make all the difference.

At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we’ve earned a perfect 10 Avvo rating for our legal services.

Hire us, and you can expect a maritime lawyer to:

  • Answer all questions and provide personal guidance and support
  • Determine which laws apply in your case
  • Calculate the fair value of your claim for compensation
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys on your behalf
  • Fight to obtain the maximum compensation you deserve

Your recovery is important. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers are here to handle the legal issues and protect your financial security. Contact us today or use our online contact form for a free case evaluation.

What Is a Maritime Accident?

The term “maritime accident” doesn’t typically include recreational boating accidents. Instead, admiralty and maritime laws apply when an accident occurs at sea or involves maritime workers.

Basically, a maritime accident is any type of accident that involves a maritime worker or sea-going vessel (non-recreational boating accidents) on or adjacent to navigable waters. “Navigable waters” are those used for travel, trade, or commerce – including the sea, harbors, bays, and inlets.

Maritime accidents often involve:

  • Cruise lines
  • Commercial fishing boats
  • Shrimp boats
  • Cargo ships
  • Crude oil tankers
  • Barges
  • Marine cranes
  • Tugboats
  • Diving support vessels
  • Offshore drilling rigs
  • Jack-Up rigs
  • Accidents in shipyards, docks, or wharves

You may have a valid maritime accident claim if you were injured as a:

  • Crew member on a cruise ship, tour boat, or sailing charter
  • Cruise ship passenger
  • Dockworker
  • Commercial fisherman
  • Longshoreman
  • Ship repairman
  • Shipbuilders
  • Ship crew member
  • Harbor workers and construction workers
  • Individuals who load or unload vessels
  • Ferry passenger

While it’s always important to consult an experienced South Florida maritime attorney if you were injured in an accident, hiring a qualified lawyer is even more important in maritime accident cases. 

How Much Is My Fort Lauderdale Maritime Accident Case Worth?

Like any personal injury case, your case value depends on the unique facts and circumstances of your accident and injury.

The value of your personal injury claim will likely depend on:

  • The nature of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical treatment and other expenses
  • Your lost income during recovery
  • Your earnings prior to suffering the disability
  • Whether you suffer any permanent disability that impacts your ability to work
  • Damage to your quality of life
  • The laws that govern your case

Most recreational boating accidents are governed by state law. In maritime accident cases, a patchwork of state, federal, and maritime law may apply. The specific laws that apply depend on many different factors, including where the accident occurred and your work status.

What Laws Govern My Fort Lauderdale Maritime Accident Case?

Below is a summary of the most common laws that govern maritime accident cases in Florida.

The Jones Act (aka the Merchant Marine Act)

You may be entitled to compensation under The Jones Act if you are an injured maritime worker who satisfies one of the following criteria:

  • You spend more than 30% of your time aboard a vessel and contribute to its operation
  • You play a substantial role in the operation of a vessel
  • You have a “direct connection” to a seagoing vessel 

The Jones Act provides compensation to injured workers who qualify as “seamen” when owners of vessels fail to maintain those vessels in seaworthy condition. These damages are called “maintenance and cure.”

Maintenance and cure compensates injured seamen for:

  • Reasonable and necessary medical expenses 
  • Living expenses during recovery

You’re entitled to continue receiving Jones Act benefits until you return to work or have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Longshoremen & Harbor Workers Compensation Act 

If you don’t qualify as a seaman, you may be entitled to seek compensation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).

The LHWCA provides benefits to injured workers who are injured while working on:

  • U.S. navigable waters
  • Docks 
  • Piers
  • Wharves
  • Terminals
  • Shipping areas

If your primary work duties are on lands adjacent to the Atlantic, rather than on the water itself, you may be entitled to LHWCA benefits.

Available compensation under the LHWCA includes:

  • All reasonable and necessary medical costs
  • Total or partial disability benefits to cover a portion of your lost wages 
  • Temporary or permanent disability benefits

If you suffer a permanent disability, you may also be entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits to prepare you for a new line of work.

These damages often mirror the types of damages that are available under Florida workers’ compensation laws.

Personal Injury Laws

It’s also possible that Florida state law could govern your case. For example, if you were injured in a cruise ship accident due to a third party’s negligent or wrongful acts, you may be entitled to compensation under state law.

In these cases, you can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses, including:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future medical care and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression 
  • PTSD
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Disfigurement 
  • Loss of consortium

Every dollar counts when it comes to making a full recovery. A variety of state, federal, and admiralty laws exist to protect you when you’re injured on the job. 

Contact Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to learn more about this area of law.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Maritime Injuries

At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we commonly help clients who have suffered:

  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Crushing injuries
  • Burns
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Regardless of the injuries you have suffered, call our Fort Lauderdale maritime accident attorneys. We offer a free case review so that you can get the help you need.

What Causes Most Maritime Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?

Like any car crash, most maritime accidents and injuries occur when people are careless. 

Some of the most common causes of maritime injuries include:

  • Failure to provide proper safety equipment
  • Negligent hiring, including failure to properly train or supervise workers
  • Failure to maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition
  • Violation of state and federal safety regulations
  • Failure to communicate
  • Mechanical failures and other dangerous conditions aboard the vessel
  • Negligent security
  • Fires and explosions
  • Dangerous water conditions
  • Communication failures
  • Fatigued and distracted workers
  • Faulty vessel designs and defective safety features
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Falls overboard
  • Exposure to hazardous substances 

Understanding the cause of your accident can be key to recovering fair compensation. While you won’t have to prove negligence in every case, identifying the at-fault party is important if you want to maximize your compensation award. Remember, multiple parties may share fault for the same injuries. You may be entitled to compensation even if you were partly responsible.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Maritime Accident in Fort Lauderdale?

The deadline for taking legal action will depend on the laws that govern your case. In all cases, you lose your right to compensation if you wait too long to act.

If you were injured on the job, it’s always important to notify your employer quickly. Under the LHWCA, you have 30 days to provide notice of your injury.

In most Jones Act cases, you have three years to file a lawsuit under federal law. If your case is governed by Florida law, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

Determining the deadline for these cases can be complex, and there are even exceptions in some instances. Contact our law office as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Maritime Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

If you were injured in a maritime accident, our team at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers is here to protect you. Contact us today at (954) 287-0566 to learn how an experienced Fort Lauderdale maritime accident lawyer can help you navigate the complex laws that govern your case.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office In Fort Lauderdale, FL

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers
1975 E Sunrise Blvd Suite# 702
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Phone: (954) 287-0566
Hours: Open 24 hours daily

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