Mariner Law, PLLC is a maritime law firm with a deep understanding of the Jones Act and admiralty law. It represents individuals who were injured on or around the water as workers, passengers, and recreational boaters. In fact, the firm exclusively provides offshore lawyer services to injured mariners. A maritime attorney from Mariner Law, PLLC will never represent insurance companies or vessel owners. Maritime Attorney Adam Deitz is proud to leverage his years of experience both as a maritime lawyer and as a licensed vessel master to zealously advocate for his clients and their needs. And unlike other firms, Mariner Law, PLLC does not take on as many cases as possible. The firm represents only a few select maritime injury victims at a time. Mariner Law, PLLC has an excellent reputation earned by working hard for its clients and always putting their needs first.
Perched in our nation’s Northwest corner, Washington possesses 3,200 miles of shoreline, nearly 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, and direct access to the vast Pacific Ocean, making it a gem in the maritime world. The maritime industry has shaped Washington into what it is today, and is rooted in timber production, trade, and productive fishing. The first colonial settlers in the region built ports hundreds of years ago to create access to other regions, moving goods and people more easily. Today, the state is home to 75 ports, 19 of which have highly productive marine terminals. The ports are the sites of a broad range of fields and trades, including commercial fishing and seafood production, shipbuilding, repair and maintenance, passenger transportation and cruises, recreational activities, and maritime logistics and shipping. The potential for lucrative ventures in the area only continues to grow.
Washington’s marine sector is the foundation for 2,300+ companies that hold over 69,500 employees, accounting for more than 2% of all the jobs in the state and generating five billion dollars in wages annually. The skilled maritime workers in the area have supported the growth of a myriad of opportunities on Washington’s waterways, and make the region an international leader in the sector. Tens of billions of dollars originate in the sector to support local, state, and national economies. Washington continues to evolve as it invests in its Maritime Blue strategy, which is focused on innovating and decarbonizing projects, while propping up continued workforce development.
The work done on Washington’s waterways is central to the state’s identity. As the men and women who take on roles as fishers, seamen, dockworkers, deckhands, longshoremen, officers, or any other maritime-related positions put their safety on the line for the wellbeing of their communities, it is crucial that they remain protected from the industry’s potential hazards by law. If you are a maritime worker harmed at an unsafe workplace, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act, maintenance and cure, unseaworthiness, or maritime law.
Working on Washington’s navigable waters and onshore at piers can be dangerous, especially if there is a lack of caution on behalf of an employing business or vessel. In recent years, the Centers for Disease Control reported that maritime worker nonfatal injury rate was staggeringly double that of the U.S. workforce overall. Inherent industry risks can be avoided with the right safety procedures and training. Some of the most common types of injury that require assistance from a seasoned offshore injury attorney include:
It can be onerous performing the work of a commercial fisherman, seaman, dock worker, or member of the maritime industry in Washington. If you have been harmed on the job, you should be able to express how your injury has changed your life. You should also be able to learn how maritime law applies to your case and what type of compensation you may receive in court.
There are powerful federal maritime laws available to ensure you receive adequate recompense if you are injured from a work-related accident. Mariner Law, PLLC specializes in maritime law to help victims navigate the complex legal system.
Among the busy ports and waterways in Washington are Aberdeen, Anacortes, Bellingham, Bremerton, Columbia River, Everett, Grays Harbor, Lake Washington, Olympia, Port Angeles, Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Westport, all of which are served by Mariner Law, PLLC to protect the essential workers of the maritime industry.
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 a maritime attorney.
The regulations and procedures in the practice of maritime personal injury law are complicated and often require in-depth examination from a legal professional. Mariner Law, PLLC has extensive experience in maritime law and is willing to assist mariners who are dealing with a workplace personal injury.
Crewmembers and passengers who have been harmed in a maritime accident may have a number of legal remedies through which rightful compensation can be reached. However, the outcome always depends on the state of the claim, the location of the incident, and the cause of injury. In Washington, there are legal protections in place to fortify the maritime workforce. Reasonable precautions must be taken to protect maritime workers on the water and on the shore in Washington State. Businesses owe their employees seaworthy vessels and safe docks, a properly operated and trained crew, and well maintained equipment. Without these requirements, there may be an unreasonable risk of injury to mariners and amphibious employees.
The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness holds that a ship owner has a responsibility to provide a seaworthy vessel, as well as adequate equipment and crew to maintain its seaworthiness. Under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, nationally, all seamen’s injuries are set and guided by certain liability standards. Fundamentally, the law assists injured seamen in obtaining a claim for shipboard injuries resulting from negligence. Under the Jones Act, the plaintiff must prove some negligence or fault on the part of the vessel’s owners, operators, officers, or fellow employees in order to receive lawful compensation.
The ancient maritime remedy of Maintenance and Cure provides injured seamen with medical expenses, certain wages, and room and board expenses while they recover from an injury due to the status or service of the vessel. Maintenance and Cure is usually available to injured or ill seamen regardless of negligence. No-fault compensation may also be provided for injured shoreside workers under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). This law is protective of amphibious workers and operates like Washington workers’ compensation by dispensing medical care, vocational rehabilitation services, and compensation.
Every seamen is entitled to a safe place to work under the Jones Act. Those who work aboard a vessel or contribute to the function of a vessel such as container ships, ferries, tugs, research vessels, freighters, tour boats, barges, and dry-bulk carriers can look to maritime law to maintain rights while on duty. The Jones Act is intended to protect merchant mariners, stewards, mates, cooks, fishermen, captains, pilots, and any other position that takes place on a vessel.
Don’t guess about your rights to compensation or blindly trust that your employer will take care of you. Consult an experienced maritime lawyer who can guide you through the maritime injury process and help you make the right choices about your claim. Whether your maritime injury claim is advanced under the Doctrine of Unseaworthiness, the Jones Act, or any other maritime law, Mariner Law, PLLC is prepared to build a solid case on your behalf.
Mariner Law, PLLC is one of the most experienced maritime injury law firms operating in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. With the firm’s maritime legal services, you will always find strong support on the side of the injured commercial fisherman, seaman, longshoreman, or recreational boater. Contact Mariner Law, PLLC’s seasoned Jones Act lawyer to discuss your legal options if you are employed by the maritime industry in Washington: (253) 600-2531. A firm Jones Act lawyer may also be available to meet with potential clients by appointment in Seattle/Tacoma (539 Broadway #412 Tacoma, WA 98402) or North Puget Sound (406 S 1st Street #300 Mount Vernon, WA 98273).
