Mariner Law, PLLC is an admiralty law firm that specializes in the Jones Act and maritime law cases. It represents real people who were seriously injured on or around the water. In fact, the firm exclusively provides offshore attorney assistance to injured seafarers. A maritime attorney from Mariner Law, PLLC will never represent an insurance company or a vessel owner. Admiralty Attorney Adam Deitz is proud to apply his years of experience as a maritime lawyer and as a licensed vessel master to zealously fight for the needs of his clients. Unlike other personal injury law firms, Mariner Law, PLLC does not recruit as many clients as possible. The firm dutifully represents only a few select maritime injury victims. That's how Mariner Law, PLLC developed its excellent reputation in the first place--by putting in the hard work needed to win and by putting its clients first every time.
Perched in our nation’s Northwest corner, with 363 miles of rugged shoreline facing the vast Pacific, Oregon possesses a desirable positioning for maritime industry success. With its access to both the United States and Asia, it operates as a leader in the maritime space and holds great potential for future expansion. Home to the largest wheat export gateway in the nation and one of the largest salmon fishing industries in the world, an overall power player in the fish packing and ship building sectors, Oregon’s marine transportation industries are critical to the wellbeing of the region and country as a whole.
Oregon’s maritime sector is extensive and plays a key economic role in its own coastal and rural communities, with the domestic maritime industry contributing $1.8 billion annually to the Oregon economy. Its state-based maritime ventures are vibrant and diverse, encompassing a range of private, public, non-profit, and academic activities. This includes cargo handling and multi-modal logistics, fishing and seafood processing, cruise ship sailings, vessel touring, ship and boat building and repair, recreational boating, and other passenger vessel operations, among many others. Hundreds of thousands of residents are tied to and rely on the Oregon marine sector workforce, and it is expected to continue expanding, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
Given the necessity of the compass of maritime work in the area, it is crucial that its maritime employees are safeguarded from the sector’s potential hazards. If you work in a maritime role, you are entitled to a safe workplace. It does not matter if you are a commercial fisherman, longshoreman, deckhand or any other related occupation - you know the risks that come with the task, and you are justified to access benefits and potentially money damages when you are harmed in a way that could have been prevented by your employers.
Being a seaman, dock worker, or member of the maritime industry in Oregon is testing work. Although there are many risks associated with the industry, it is important that mariners are afforded the chance to seek recovery for injuries suffered due to the negligence of others. Mariner Law, PLLC specializes in maritime law to help injury victims navigate the complicated maritime claims system.
Working on the water and alongside shore at shipyards comes with a dangerous environment, especially if there is a lack of caution by shipowners and maritime employers. The CDC has repeatedly found that maritime worker nonfatal injury rate is two times that of the rest of the U.S. workforce overall. Inherent dangers of industry in maritime positions can be avoided with the right safety procedures and training. Some of the most common types of injury that requires personal injury case representation in the sector include:
There are powerful admiralty laws that may apply to ensure you receive adequate compensation if you are injured from a work-related accident. It depends on the specific facts of your case.
Among the highly regarded ports, bays, and waterways in Oregon’s locale are Astoria, Columbia River, Coos Bay, Florence, Gold Beach, Nehalem Bay, Newport, Portland, Tillamook Bay, Waldport, and Willamette River, all of which are served by Mariner Law, PLLC to protect the essential members of Oregon's booming maritime industry.
To learn more and consider what Mariner Law, PLLC may be able to do in your case, call (971) 394-9900 to schedule a no-cost and obligation free consultation.
Mariner Law, PLLC exclusively handles maritime injury cases. As such, it is well familiar with maritime laws and regulations, and is willing to supply assistance and advice to individuals who are trying to navigate a personal injury case. The rules and regulations required within this field of law are incredibly complicated and often require a deep dive into the facts and relevant laws by an experienced professional.
Special precautions must be taken to protect maritime employees on the water and on the shore from injuries in Oregon. Employers owe their employees the provision of a seaworthy vessel or safe docks, a properly trained crew, and up-to-date and effective equipment. Without these requirements, a great risk is presented to seamen on the job.
There are multiple legal frameworks under which affected parties in the maritime industries can be compensated. However, it ultimately depends on the state of the claim, the location of the event, and the cause of injury.
Seamen in Oregon who work aboard a vessel or contribute to the function of a vessel such as fishing vessels, container ships, tugs, research vessels, ferries, freighters, tour boats, barges, and dry-bulk carriers can look to maritime law to maintain rights while on duty. These provisions can include causes of action 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 to maintain its seaworthiness, including adequate equipment and competent crew. Under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, all seamen injuries throughout the nation are set and guided by specified liability standards. In essence, the law assists injured seamen in obtaining a claim for an injury. In order for it to be invoked, a worker must prove some negligence or fault on the part of the vessel’s owners, operators, officers, or crewmates. Another remedy that has bee available to injured seamen for centuries is Maintenance and Cure. This pair of maritime benefits provides injured seamen with medical expenses, unearned wages from the voyage, and room and board assistance while the employee is recovering from an injury that occurred on or in service of a vessel. Whether or not the illness or injury was caused by the employer or vessel, every seamen is entitled to it.
Maintenance and cure does not apply to amphibious land-based workers. Those employees can instead make a claim under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) which is administered by the Department of Labor. This law is protective and operates like Oregon workers’ compensation by requiring payments for medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wage compensation.
Don’t guess about your rights to compensation for injury or allow your employer to convince you that your case is worth less. Consult a seasoned maritime lawyer who can walk you through the maritime injury claims process and help you make the right moves. Whether your maritime injury claim is subject to the Doctrine of Unseaworthiness, the Jones Act, or any other maritime law, Mariner Law, PLLC is prepared to build a strong case.
Mariner Law, PLLC is one of the most experienced maritime injury law firms operating in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, New York, and Connecticut. With the firm’s services, you will always find strong support on the side of the injured fisherman or commercial seamen. Contact an experienced Jones Act attorney at Mariner Law, PLLC to discuss your case, your options, and potential outcomes if you suffered injury in the maritime industry of Oregon. Call now for a free injury consultation: (971) 394-9900.
An attorney may also be available to meet with potential clients in-person by appointment: 4949 S Macadam Ave 2nd Fl, #83, Portland, OR 97239.
