Maritime Attorneys

Maritime Law around the World

Maritime law is not just applicable to the United States, but is a body of law that connects us to other nations. Any nation that has commerce, trade, recreation, employment and other activities off their coast has a set of regulations and rules that govern these activities on the sea. The United States has the Coast Guard as other nations have their own law enforcement agencies, and they sometimes work together to keep things safe.

The United States also has its maritime law incorporated in the Constitution. The sheer nature of maritime law is so unique that maritime attorneys have the challenge of interpreting these rules and regulations and then applying them to a worker that is injured, a contract dispute between vessels, a compensation issue for a vessel that helps another vessel in distress, limitation of liability issues and much more. Maritime law dates back to our forefathers and their activities on the seas, and yet, these same laws can be applied to issues from today.

Maritime Law on Contract Disputes and Personal Injury

Maritime attorneys can also assist in a contract dispute. Contract disputes that fall under maritime law are distinct in that the contract is regarding the business or operation of a ship or vessel. These contracts can be within the same nation or an agreement between two different nations.

Another area that falls under maritime law is personal injury issues. The Jones Act of 1970 was passed by the United States Congress. Its role is to protect the rights of workers that have been injured on a ship or vessel because of the negligence of the employer.

This is a complex area of maritime law since injuries of sea workers fall into a huge range. Some injuries can be a simple slip and fall. Some injuries are not prevalent until the completion of a job. In some extreme cases, a worker may not understand the extent of their injury until years after they have retired from working on the sea. This is the case for asbestos-related diseases, as these diseases do not show symptoms until many years after a person is exposed.

If you have been injured from a job off the coast, you need to select a maritime attorney. There are many maritime attorneys to choose from, so your challenge is to choose the one you feel will be your best advocate. At Williams Kherkher we offer a free consultation with one of our maritime attorneys. Having an initial meeting with your potential attorney is an excellent way to help make your decision. We appreciate the difficult situation you and your family are in, and do not want to add another stress. Contact Williams Kherkher today.