MARITIME

Don't miss National Maritime Day: May 23, 2008.

Maritime law refers to those types of injury cases which occur on water. Just as there are many catastrophic injuries which occur on land from car accidents or defective products, the same type of injuries are caused by boat accidents, jet ski accidents or cruise ship injuries. In addition, many people work on tugboats, barges, dredges or other vessels and may be injured while performing their jobs. These on the job injuries also are considered maritime claims and may be governed by the Jones Act or other maritime laws designed to protect injured workers.

The laws which govern injuries which occur on water, or what the courts term "navigable water," are in many ways different than the laws which apply to land based claims. For this reason it is very important to speak to a maritime lawyer as soon as possible. Contacting an experienced admiralty lawyer in this area is vital to the successful prosecution of your claim. Some of the types of injuries which we handle include:

Boat Accidents

Jones Act Injuries

Cruise Ship Injuries

Tugboat Injuries

Barge Worker Claims

Dredge Worker Claims

Fishing Injuries

Menhaden Fishing Injuries

Jet Ski Injuries

Dock Worker Claims

Marina Injuries

When maritime or admiralty injuries occur there is usually a rapid response by a governmental agency or by the responsible party. The Coast Guard investigates many boating accidents and serious injuries and responds to tragedies as they happen. The local police marine division may respond or in the case of a shipping accident, the Port Authority personnel arrive immediately. Of course if the defendant is a corporation, they will have their investigators and spokespersons on the scene to practice damage control and to put the best spin on the tragedy. An injured person needs someone to make sure that these investigations are conducted properly and completely. A qualified maritime attorney is your best advocate during this process.

The Virginia Maritime attorneys at Rutter Mills L.L.P. have handled maritime cases up and down the East Coast and Gulf Coast as well as some international claims. We have handled cases in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and many other states. If you are injured on the water call the Maritime lawyers at Rutter Mills or click here.