Puget Sound is a crown jewel among United States waters. Located in the pacific northwest, Puget Sound is an estuarine inlet of the Pacific Ocean and part of an area known as the Salish Sea. Ideal for large vessel traffic, its protected waters are over 100 miles long with an average depth of 450 feet. It includes many significant bodies of water and maritime zones like the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Bellingham Bay, Padilla Bay, Deception Pass, Skagit Bay, Swinomish Channel, Possession Sound, Dabob Bay, Hood Canal, Elliot Bay, Commencement Bay, and countless inlets.
Puget Sound is dominated by vessels, marine transportation, commercial fishing, and other aspects of a complex maritime economy. There are major ports operating in several key Puget Sound cities including: Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, Seattle, and Tacoma. Home to one of the most significant fishing fleets in the world, Puget Sound also acts as the homeport of countless commercial fishing vessels in areas like Bellingham, Everett, and Seattle. Thousands of recreational boats can be found all over the sound.
Vessels of all shapes, sizes, and capabilities navigate the busy waters of Puget Sound. These include fishing vessels, tugs, barges, tankships, dry bulk ships, roro carriers, chemical tankers, tour boats, containerships, and pleasure craft. The Washington State Ferry system is also one of the largest in the nation. Still other private and municipal ferries supplement the state-operated system.
The waters of Puget Sound are subject to regional weather patterns and local currents. While working on or around Puget Sound can be tough, it should not be unreasonably dangerous for those who labor there. The brave men and women of the Puget Sound maritime industry often fall within a protected class of workers under federal statutes. It is the responsibility of maritime employers and vessel owners to put safeguards in place to protect these important employees. If you are employed in the maritime industry in Puget Sound and were the victim of an accident while on the job, you may have a claim for damages. If you are not a maritime worker but were injured as a passenger on a vessel in the Puget Sound, you too may have a claim.
Mariner Law, PLLC represents a wide range of individuals injured while working and playing on the waters of Puget Sound in Washington State. The firm's clients may include commercial fishermen, vessel crew members, merchant mariners, ferry workers, barge workers, dock workers, boaters and more. The firm takes on cases involving:
Falling from a height
Slip and fall accidents
Crushings
Chemical burns
Head injuries
Broken bones
Lost limbs
Toxic Exposure
The Jones Act and general maritime law may allow compensation to maritime employees that are hurt due to their employer’s negligence. There are serious consequences that occur when employers and vessel owners ignore the safety of their employees. It is vital that the victims of work-related accidents understand their remedies under maritime law. There are possible claims under the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) that may permit injured employees and their families compensation for medical care, wage loss, room and board, and other damages sustained.
If you are facing injury or illness because of a workplace incident or boating accident on Puget Sound, certain maritime statutes and common laws may entitle you to rightful compensation. Mariner Law, PLLC understands the complex nature of maritime law and will work tirelessly to deliver justice on behalf of firm clients. To find out how a Mariner Law, PLLC Washington Jones Act lawyer can help in your case, call (253) 600-2531 and ask to speak with a maritime attorney today.