Mariner Law, PLLC is a maritime law firm that specializes in admiralty law matters. It represents victims of personal injury suffered on or around the water. In fact, the firm exclusively provides offshore injury lawyer services to seafarers, both commercial and recreational. A maritime attorney from Mariner Law, PLLC will never represent an insurance company or a vessel owner. Maritime Attorney Adam Deitz is proud to leverage his extensive experience both as a maritime lawyer and as a licensed vessel master to zealously advocate for his clients and their needs. Mariner Law, PLLC is unique among personal injury firms because it does not prioritize taking on as many cases as possible. The firm dutifully represents only a few select clients. Mariner Law, PLLC garnered its excellent reputation through hard work and putting its clients first every time.
Sharing a maritime border with the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Pacific Ocean and possessing over 58 ports, the great state of Alaska is located optimally for peak maritime activity. Alaska is dependent on the vast waters surrounding it, ranking third in the nation per capita for maritime jobs. From its villages to cities, the industry represents 70,000 jobs state-wide.
The state produces 60% landings and 32% value of the seafood harvest in the United States and provides exports of oil and minerals, and receives 90% of consumer and industrial goods by ship. Further, Alaska is one of the most popular destinations for cruise ship experiences, halibut charters, and recreational hunting and fishing. Alaska and its economy are boosted by the maritime industry and the rest of the country relies on its plenty for many essential goods The state's expansive maritime workforce deserves and requires protection.
Given the great necessity of maritime work in the state, it is vital that marine transport employees are safeguarded from the many dangers of the industry. If you work in a maritime role, you are entitled to a safe workplace. It does not matter if you are a commercial fisherman, deckhand, longshoreman, or any other related occupation--you may have access to benefits or further compensation after being harmed in a way that could have been prevented by your employers.
Laboring as a seaman, dock worker, or member of the maritime industry in Alaska can be demanding. Whether you have been injured while facing rough weather, utilizing inadequate equipment, or remaining untrained on the job, you may have a right to receive certain benefits or compensation. Mariner Law, PLLC specializes in maritime law to help any potential victim navigate the complex maritime litigation system.
The Centers for Disease Control has reported that maritime worker nonfatal injury rate is double that of the U.S. workforce overall. Hazards working on navigable waters and onshore at shipyards can make the environment needlessly dangerous, especially if there is a lack of prudence on behalf of a business or organization. Some of the most common types of injuries that require a skilled offshore lawyer include:
Among the highly notable and large ports in Alaska’s locale are Anchorage, the Bering Sea, Bristol Bay, Dutch Harbor, Juneau, Kodiak, and Valdez, all of which are served by Mariner Law, PLLC to protect the essential working members of the maritime industry.
If you are facing a serious injury or the death of a loved on because of a work-related accident, there are powerful federal laws enacted by Congress to ensure you receive adequate compensation. To find out what Mariner Law, PLLC can do to help you or a loved one, call (253) 600-2531 today and schedule a consultation with the firm.
Mariner Law, PLLC holds a great amount of knowledge and passion for maritime law. A firm offshore injury attorney is available to provide assistance to victims looking for ways to navigate a personal injury case. The extensive rules and regulations required within this field of law can be complicated and require a detailed factual investigation by a seasoned Alaska maritime lawyer.
When an Alaskan seaman or offshore worker is harmed, they are often eligible to file various claims including: Maintenance and Cure, Unseaworthiness, Wrongful Death, and Negligence. However, it ultimately depends on the state of the claim, the location of the event, and the cause of injury.
Seamen in Alaska who work aboard a vessel or contribute to the function of a vessel such as container ships, research vessels, freighters, barges, and dry-bulk carriers can look to maritime law such as the Jones Act or the Doctrine of Unseaworthiness to maintain their rights to benefits and compensation for a work-related injury or illness. These provisions are a powerful tool for injured sailors, stewards, mates, cooks, fishermen, captains, pilots, and any other position that takes place on a vessel.
The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness states that a ship owner has a duty to provide a seaworthy vessel and to maintain its seaworthiness, including adequate equipment and crew. Under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, seamen can obtain a claim for an injury if the worker proves some negligence or fault on the part of the vessel’s owners, operators, officers, or fellow employees.
The ancient benefits of Maintenance and Cure provide injured seamen with medical expenses, limited wages, and room and board expenses while the maritime employee is recovering from an injury or illness suffered while service of the vessel.
If certain non-crewmembers, like passengers, are lost or killed further out at sea, the Death on High Seas Act (DOHSA) permits a claim to be filed within three years. It may provide the decedents' families with limited benefits.
For amphibious maritime workers in Alaska, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) may be another source of compensation. This law is protective and operates like Alaska workers’ compensation by dispensing medical care, vocational rehabilitation services, and compensation.
Don’t guess about your rights to compensation for injury or allow your employer to convince you otherwise. Consult a competent, skilled maritime lawyer from Mariner Law, PLLC who can guide you through the process and help you make the right moves.
Mariner Law, PLLC is one of the most experienced maritime injury law firms operating in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. With the firm’s services, you will always find strong support on the side of the injured fisherman or seaman. Contact Mariner Law, PLLC’s experienced Jones Act lawyer to discuss your legal options after an injury if you are employed by the maritime industry in Alaska. Initial consultation is free: (253) 600-2531.
