Admiralty and Maritime Law is an international law that dates back to ancient Greece and, although it has been updated to conform to modern times, is still the basis by which all countries govern and control transportation on water. In Florida, the regulations relating to Admiralty law are extremely complex but generally encompass any vessel that is in navigable waters.

At LaBovick Law Group we handle Maritime cases involving boating  accidents.  A vessel is defined as a watercraft or other contrivance capable of being used as a means of transportation over water. This includes pleasure crafts, commercial vessels and may include offshore oil derricks, barges, drilling rigs, etc. The vessel must also be in navigable waters. Navigable waters refer to oceans and their adjacent harbors and any other body of water, salt or fresh, that can be traveled interstate.

To further complicate matters, an employee of a vessel who is injured while working on that vessel will often be covered under the "Jones Act" (Merchant Marine Act), or under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, rather than workers' compensation.

If you have been injured on the water, it is important that you consult with an experienced Florida Maritime Attorney . You will need to determine under what jurisdiction your claim can be filed. For example:

• Were you on a recreational vessel or commercial vessel?
• Were you in navigable waters when the incident occurred?
• Were you working on the vessel or were you a passenger? Was there negligence involved at the time of the incident?

Please note Admiralty and Maritime Law does not always necessitate negligence. If your claim does not apply to Admiralty or Maritime law, you may be able to file for recovery against your losses in State court. If you have suffered damages as a result of an injury in a watercraft and you are not in navigable waters, you may be able to file a claim against the watercraft's owner if you can prove negligence on the part of the owner. In order to prove negligence, you must prove the following:

• Negligence - The operator failed to use due care.
• Causation - The negligence of the operator caused the accident.
• Damages - You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Boating  or Watercraft Accident , please fill out the form on the left for a free case evaluation by one of our qualified F lorida Boating Accident  Attorneys.

If you wish to discuss your matter with an experienced Florida Boating Accident Attorney, please call Toll Free: 1-888-777-3884.