Maritime Admiralty Law

Maritime admiralty 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, which is why it's important to contact a maritime lawyer so you know your rights. At LaBovick Law Group, our maritime lawyer handles all cases involving admiralty law.

Maritime Admiralty Law Defined

In Florida, the regulations relating to maritime law are extremely complex but generally encompass any vessel that is in navigable waters. 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 and may include offshore oil derricks, barges, drilling rigs, etc. The craft 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 lawyer. You will need to determine under what jurisdiction your claim can be filed.

How To Determine if Admiralty Law Applies

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

Please note maritime admiralty law does not always necessitate negligence. If your claim does not apply to admiralty law, you may be able to file for recovery against your losses in Florida 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 maritime accident, please fill out the form on the left for a free case evaluation by a qualified Florida maritime attorney at LaBovick Law Group.

Our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer division, paralegals, and case managers experts in Maritime Admiralty Law throughout Florida, including Palm Beach County, the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, North Palm Beach, Stuart, Deerfield Beach, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Lake Worth, Tequesta, Ft. Pierce, Lake Park, Riviera Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, Greenacres and Wellington.