Maritime Injury Lawyer for Catastrophic Boat and Ship Accidents
A maritime injury lawyer helps people hurt in boat, ship, or water accidents. This includes families if the injury causes death. Maritime law is different from regular personal-injury law. It has its own rules, timelines, and remedies. CHG Personal Injury Lawyers focuses exclusively on catastrophic maritime injuries: spinal cord injuries, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death. These are injuries that permanently change a person’s life.
What a Maritime Injury Lawyer Does—and Why You May Need One
A maritime injury lawyer investigates water accidents. They identify who was negligent and pursue compensation under federal maritime law.
Maritime law covers injuries on: – Commercial fishing vessels – Offshore oil and gas platforms – Cruise ships – Tugboats and barges – Recreational boats
Maritime law is not the same as regular personal-injury law. Maritime cases are filed in federal court. They follow admiralty rules.
The firm handles maritime injury cases nationwide. Your accident may have happened in Florida waters, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, or any U.S. port or offshore zone. The firm has the experience and resources to pursue your claim.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
Who This Service Is For
Maritime injury claims are available to:
- Commercial fishermen, deckhands, and processing workers injured on fishing vessels
- Offshore workers (oil rigs, platforms, supply vessels) hurt on the job
- Cruise ship passengers and crew members injured due to negligence or unsafe conditions
- Tugboat and barge crew members
- Recreational boaters injured in collisions, capsizing, or unsafe vessel conditions
- Maritime employees covered under the Jones Act or other maritime employment laws
- Families of people killed in maritime accidents pursuing wrongful-death claims
- Anyone injured because a vessel owner, operator, or employer failed to maintain safe conditions or provide proper equipment
What Maritime Injury Claims Cover
Maritime injury claims cover a wide range of accidents and legal theories.
Negligence and Unseaworthiness
Injuries caused by negligence are actionable. This includes unsafe vessel conditions, lack of maintenance, operator error, or failure to provide proper safety equipment.
Under the unseaworthiness doctrine, a vessel owner is liable if the ship or boat was not fit for its intended purpose. This includes lack of proper equipment, crew training, or maintenance.
Jones Act Claims
If you are a maritime employee injured due to your employer’s negligence, you can sue under the Jones Act. This federal law covers commercial fishermen, offshore workers, tugboat crews, and others.
Unlike regular workers’ compensation, the Jones Act allows you to recover full damages. This includes pain and suffering.
Maintenance and Cure
Maritime employers must pay for medical care and living expenses while an injured employee recovers. This is true regardless of who was at fault. This benefit is separate from any lawsuit.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
If you work loading or unloading cargo or in port facilities, the LHWCA may provide benefits similar to workers’ compensation. You may also have a third-party negligence claim against parties other than your employer.
Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
If a family member died in a maritime accident in international waters (beyond 3 nautical miles from shore), DOHSA allows the family to pursue a wrongful-death claim. This federal statute provides a remedy when deaths occur far from land.
Catastrophic Injuries
The firm pursues claims for the most serious maritime injuries: spinal cord injuries, paralysis (paraplegia and quadriplegia), traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death. These injuries cause permanent impairment and require lifetime care, resulting in substantial compensation.
How the Process Works: What to Expect
Initial Consultation (Free)
You describe the accident, your injuries, and what happened. The attorney listens and explains whether maritime law applies to your situation. There is no cost or obligation.
Investigation
The firm gathers evidence: – Vessel maintenance records – Crew logs – Weather data – Witness statements – Photos – Expert reports
The attorney may hire naval architects or vessel-safety engineers to examine the ship or boat.
Determining Liability
The attorney identifies who was negligent or at fault. This may be the vessel owner, operator, employer, manufacturer, port authority, or another party.
Identifying Applicable Law
Maritime law offers several paths to recovery. The attorney determines which applies: Jones Act, unseaworthiness, maintenance and cure, LHWCA, DOHSA, or general maritime negligence. Each has different rules, recovery limits, and procedures.
Demand and Negotiation
The firm prepares a detailed claim. They negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company or legal team. Many cases settle at this stage.
Litigation (If Needed)
If settlement talks fail, the case goes to federal or admiralty court. Maritime cases may be tried before a judge or jury. The firm is prepared to litigate aggressively.
Timeline
Maritime cases typically take 1–3 years to resolve. This depends on complexity and whether the case settles or goes to trial.
No Upfront Cost
The firm works on contingency. You pay nothing unless the case is resolved in your favor.
Have questions about what happened?
Ask our team directly. The first conversation is free, confidential, and there is no obligation to continue.
Why Choose This Firm for Your Maritime Injury Claim
Exclusive Focus on Catastrophic Injuries
The firm does not handle minor or routine cases. Every attorney focuses on life-altering harm: spinal cord injuries, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death.
Nationwide Maritime Practice
Licensed Florida Attorneys with Maritime Expertise
The firm’s attorneys are licensed in Florida. They are deeply knowledgeable in maritime law, Jones Act claims, unseaworthiness doctrine, and federal admiralty rules. They understand how maritime law differs from ordinary personal-injury law and how to maximize recovery.
Relationships with Maritime Experts
The firm works with naval architects, vessel-safety engineers, medical specialists in catastrophic injury, and economists. These experts calculate lifetime care costs and strengthen your case.
Aggressive Advocacy
Bilingual Resources
The firm provides English and Spanish-language support for clients and families.
Compassionate Approach
Maritime injuries often devastate working families. Every case is treated with dignity and urgency.
Maritime Law Basics: Key Terms and Rules
The Jones Act
The Jones Act is a federal law. It allows maritime employees—fishermen, offshore workers, tugboat crews, and others—to sue their employers for negligence. This is unique: in regular employment, workers’ compensation bars suits against employers. Under the Jones Act, you can recover full damages, including pain and suffering and lost wages.
Unseaworthiness
A vessel owner has a duty to keep the ship or boat safe and fit for its intended use. If the vessel is unsafe—due to poor maintenance, defective equipment, or inadequate crew training—the owner is liable for injuries. This is true even if the owner was not directly negligent.
Maintenance and Cure
An employer’s obligation to pay for medical treatment and living expenses while an injured maritime worker recovers. This duty exists regardless of fault and is separate from any lawsuit.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
The LHWCA covers workers who load or unload cargo or work in port facilities. It provides benefits similar to workers’ compensation. You may also have a third-party negligence claim against parties other than your employer.
Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
DOHSA allows families to sue for wrongful death if the death occurred in international waters (more than 3 nautical miles from shore). This statute provides a remedy when deaths occur far from land. Ordinary state wrongful-death laws may not apply.
General Maritime Negligence
This applies to passengers and others not covered by the Jones Act. You can recover damages for injuries caused by negligence.
Comparative Negligence
Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 768.81), you can recover even if you were partly at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover.
Statute of Limitations
Some maritime claims have different deadlines. Time matters—contact an attorney quickly.
How Much Does a Maritime Injury Lawyer Cost?
Contingency Fee
The firm charges no upfront fees. You pay a percentage of the recovery only if the case is resolved (settled or won at trial).
No Cost If You Don’t Recover
If the case is unsuccessful, you owe nothing.
Transparent Fee Agreement
All costs and fee percentages are explained in writing before the firm takes your case.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Investigation, expert reports, court filings, and other case expenses are typically advanced by the firm. They are recovered from the settlement or judgment.
Want to know where you stand?
Tell us what happened and our team will walk you through the options available to you, at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maritime Injury Claims
Q: Does maritime law still apply?
Yes. Maritime law is centuries old and remains the governing framework for injuries on water. Federal courts enforce it strictly.
Q: Can I sue my employer if I’m a maritime worker?
Yes, under the Jones Act. Unlike regular workers’ compensation, maritime employees can sue employers for negligence and recover full damages.
Q: What if I was a passenger on a cruise ship?
You can sue the cruise line for negligence. Cruise lines have a duty to maintain safe conditions and protect passengers from foreseeable harm.
Q: How long do I have to file a claim?
Generally 3 years for maritime negligence claims. Some claims (like DOHSA) have different deadlines. Contact an attorney immediately—waiting costs you.
Q: What if the accident happened in international waters?
The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) may apply. This allows your family to recover for wrongful death. Maritime law applies regardless of where the accident occurred.
Q: Can I recover if I was partially at fault?
Yes, under comparative negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)). Even if you were partly responsible, you may still recover damages. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Q: What is unseaworthiness?
It means the vessel was not safe or fit for its intended use. If a ship is unseaworthy, the owner is liable for injuries. This is true even without proving direct negligence.
Q: How much compensation can I recover?
It depends on the severity of your injury, medical costs, lost wages, future care needs, and pain and suffering.
Q: Do I need to go to trial?
Most cases settle. The firm is prepared to litigate. The threat of trial often motivates fair settlement offers.
Q: What if the injured person has died?
Your family can pursue a wrongful-death claim. The firm handles these cases with compassion and fights for full compensation.
Take the Next Step
If you or a family member suffered a catastrophic injury in a boat or ship accident, the firm is ready to help. You may have been a commercial fisherman, offshore worker, cruise ship passenger, or recreational boater. The initial consultation is free and confidential.
Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free case evaluation. People injured in catastrophic maritime accidents reach out regularly. The firm is prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve.