Blog
- What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act?
February 22, 2023
Read MoreWhy Was the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) Created? Congress enacted the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) in 1927. At the time, it was legally necessary to create a federal workers’ compensation program because employees who worked on navigable waters were not covered under any state’s workers’ compensation system due to […]
- Your Complete Guide to the Jones Act
July 15, 2022
Read MoreIn the United States, transportation of goods between two parts of the U.S. is regulated by federal law. Provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act, codified seamen’s rights and also required the development of a domestic maritime industry for shipping of goods between U.S. ports. As a result, the […]
- What Is the Law of the Sea?
July 13, 2022
Read MoreWhile private activities on the ocean or navigable waters are governed by national and international maritime law, the relationships between countries when it comes to the use of the oceans is governed by a separate area of law called the Law of the Sea. Although the Law of the Sea is a body of public […]
- How Is Maritime Law Different from Personal Injury Law?
July 11, 2022
Read MoreIf you are injured in an accident on the water or on a vessel, you may decide to pursue a personal injury claim against the party or parties whose negligence caused the accident. However, most injury cases that arise on a vessel or on the water are governed by maritime law rather than a state’s […]
- Does Maritime Law Apply to Lakes and Rivers?
July 09, 2022
Read MoreWhen you are involved in an accident or an incident on a lake or a river, you may not even consider that a special body of federal law will govern any claims you have arising from that accident or incident. Although lakes and rivers seem like the domain of state law, under certain circumstances these […]
- Does Maritime Law Apply on Land?
July 07, 2022
Read MoreWhen an accident or other incident that leads to injuries or property damage occurs on the open water, you may know that maritime law likely applies to claims that an injured party may have. But you may be surprised to learn that maritime law may also apply to certain accidents and incidents on land. The […]
- Can I File Suit Against a Sea Vessel?
July 05, 2022
Read MoreIf you were hurt in an accident involving a sea vessel that was caused by the negligence of the vessel’s owner or operator, you normally might file a lawsuit against the owner/operator to recover compensation. However, various circumstances might make it infeasible to file suit against the person or entity that owns or operates the […]
- A History of Maritime Law in the United States
July 03, 2022
Read MoreMaritime law in the United States stretches throughout the entire history of the country, all the way to the founding of the first colonies. As the North American colonies were established to trade resources back to England, France, and Spain, shipping and the maritime industry were a critical part of the development of the U.S. […]
- A Guide to the Suits in Admiralty Act
July 01, 2022
Read MoreFor many years, someone who was injured in an accident that was caused by the negligent operation of a federal government vessel could not file a lawsuit against the government due to sovereign immunity. However, the Congress realized that the federal government should not be immune from suit for negligently injuring people. As a result, […]
- A Guide to the Public Vessels Act
June 30, 2022
Read MoreNegligence in the operation of a government-owned vessel may lead to an accident that causes injury and damage for other innocent parties. Historically, parties who were harmed by the negligence of the government could not pursue compensation due to the government’s sovereign immunity, which is an absolute prohibition on filing a civil lawsuit for monetary […]
