Maritime Wrongful Death Attorney
Welcome to Ehline Law Firm's wrongful death at sea page. Cruise ship companies have lobbied Congress for years to keep themselves from being held to the same standards that a land-based company is held. Did you lose a loved one at sea and feel like you hit a brick wall when seeking answers as to how and why?
Table of Contents:
- Loved One Died?
- Careless Actions and Jones Act
- Death on the High Seas Act
- Seamen have the Jones Act Protecting them
- Careless Acts
- A vessel in the Sea
- Ehline Law Firm
You are not alone. Let the Bulldogs at Ehline Law Firm help you as we help others in your situation. Ehline Law Firm has lobbied Congress on behalf of the American people. Attorney Michael Ehline has done so jointly with International Cruise Victims (“ICV”) for more stringent standards and in court to keep them honest.
Our cruise ship wrongful death attorneys have a proven track record for fighting these big multi-national corporations on behalf of mourning families.
Can Ehline Law Firm Help You with a Passenger Death on a Cruise Ship Case?
The Ehline Law firm is experienced in assisting families, spouses, and dependent relatives of tourists who have been fatally injured or lost at sea, or on land. When there has been a demise of a loved one considering a wrongful death lawsuit is a means of recovering damages for loss of a wage earner, love and affection.
The family or spouse that has lost a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or sibling, has suffered one of the darkest chapters in their lives. Ehline Law Firm is an experienced attorney in wrongful death claims. So hiring us means the family can now begin to heal from their loss.
Can You Sue for Fatalities Caused By Negligence and Under the Jones Act?
Ehline Law can assist in evaluating what legal options are best to pursue when you are ready to discuss the killing of a loved one on the high seas.
Important: The Jones Act may apply for the person that suffered death at sea; the damages that can be recovered depending on many factors.
Important: The statute allows in some cases for the spouse, parents, or children to the mariner’s Jones Act rights in recovering damages.
What About the Death on the High Seas Act.
The Death on the High Seas Act does not allow recovery of non-pecuniary damages from the employer. First and foremost, these include loss of companionship or consortium. But the lawyer must know what law applies to deaths outside the territorial waters of the United States.
Important: At any rate, a death that occurs within the territorial sea of the United States has more general damages than for a wrongful death outside those waters. Get it so far?
So in some cases, the claim can establish an alleged case against the vessel owner. In other situations, the application will remain solely with the employer. Either way, a case will always exist for a ship not seaworthy.
Deaths occurring in the United States territorial waters can include damages for loss of society or consortium. And this can make a difference in recovery.
There are other types of wrongful death claims that do not involve working seamen. Depending on the circumstances, these may involve long-shore or terminal workers, passenger cruises, ferry accidents, and fatal boating accidents. In other words, anything touching the water can fall under these laws.
What About a Freshwater Death?
As a matter of fact, some fresh water accident cases fall under federal maritime law. So such instances may include jet ski fatalities. Accordingly, there are determining factors as to whether these accidents fall under the scope of this law.
- What About the State Law Statutes?
Sometimes the claim should be filed under the state wrongful death statute. (<< See the Video.) But this takes the experience of a maritime wrongful death attorney. So you can rely upon them to collect the evidence and make the proper case.
How Can The Jones Act Apply?
All things considered, the Jones Act helps to protect merchant mariners and working seamen. Its object is to assist them in recovering damages. But it also allows for other types of recovery.
Important: Examples of covered items include mishaps and illness, while employed by the sea vessel owners.
When more information about the advantages of the Jones Act is required, contact Ehline Law Firm. For this reason, this remains the first step in assisting the crew.
Does The Act Give Employees Right Like their Land Based Counterparts?
Yes! The Jones Act protects seamen, providing them with the benefits that a land-based employee would have when injured. These land-based employees have worker’s compensation, temporary or permanent disability after an accident or negligence on the job.
Important: Seamen have the Jones Act protecting them from providing damages for negligence on the owner’s part, the master or even fellow crew-members. Also, un-seaworthy vessel injuries mean the ship's owner remains liable.
Conditions considered negligent:
- The owner is failing to hire, train, or staff the ship properly.
- Lack of proper equipment, protective clothing, and gear for the job.
- Not enforcing safety practices or removing safety parts on machinery.
- Lack of proper maintenance on the vessel or the equipment.
- You are working in dangerous weather conditions, including heavy seas.
A un-seaworthy vessel includes:
- Slippery surfaces or un-maintained decks, gangways and passageways.
- Work that is dangerous or overwork and excessive lifting.
- An under-manned or untrained crew.
- Improper storage of wires, cables, and lines.
- Poorly maintained or loose rails, hulls, and bulkheads.
- Badly maintained emergency response equipment and lifeboats.
- Insufficient lifeboats for the crewmembers.
By and large, the mariner’s attorneys at the Ehline Law firm have the experience to understand the complex laws. In fact, they can provide protection for the seamen fatally injured, or hurt passengers. Experienced onboard ship injuries lawyer await for your call.
No doubt, this will involve laws from the Jones Act. Extermination of life on the high seas will usually mean the Death on the High Seas Act applies.
How Does a Victim of Death at Sea Get Help?
Ehline Law Firm is aggressive in handling these type of cases. Also, they can take the facts from the client or their family of the incident. Afterward, they can use their experience and knowledge to build a case and strategy. From here on they can work to recover the damages the victims deserve under the law
