Admiralty & Maritime Cases
In addition to Jones Act seaman, there is the admiralty or maritime law that applies to boats, ships, seamen, longshoremen, offshore oil rigs and platforms, and any incident that occurs on the water. Many people in need of maritime legal expertise are unaware of their need. The marine environment is different than the environment on land. The same is true when a casualty or loss is suffered on or near the water and you need legal assistance. Just as your work or recreation in the marine environment requires specialized knowledge, the legal landscape is different for an attorney handling a maritime case. You simply cannot afford to retain an attorney who is not familiar with the field.
Maritime or marine law involves complicated, unique laws that the average land‑based or automobile accident lawyer is neither familiar with nor encounters on a regular basis. This lack of familiarity or experience with maritime can prejudice the way a client’s problems are handled. Many maritime cases are tried in Federal Court while many non-maritime cases are usually tried in State Court.