An injury suffered at sea can leave an individual facing significant hardships, and for a long time to come. The physical pain can leave a victim with limitations that make living normal life difficult, and the emotional toll can lead to loss of enjoyment of life and...
Maritime Law
How does the Jones Act protect workers on ships?
When they think about being injured at work, most people think of workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation benefits protect many workers within the San Diego area. However, there are many workers based in San Diego who work in maritime industries and are not...
Common accidents that occur on ship decks
There are many dangers that are present in different areas of San Diego’s shipping industry. The types of dangers depend on where people are working within the industry. People working on the ship decks may experience different dangers than those performing...
U.S. and California boating injuries and deaths increased in 2020
With the Pacific Ocean in its backyard, San Diego is among the nation’s hot spots for recreational boating activity. San Diego Bay and Mission Bay also attract many recreational boaters, seeking to relax, fish and enjoy the ocean. And it has been busy lately. Last...
Benefits under the Death on the High Seas Act
Many people in the San Diego area work in the maritime industry. They would know that working on the high seas comes with its own share of risks that are unique to the industry. Like in other high-risk professions, maritime workers often have to deal with injuries for...
How the “savings to suitors” clause works
Usually, when an employee seeks compensation for injury while on the job, filing a negligence suit either with attorney representation or pro se in state court would be the way to proceed. For maritime workers and seaman, however, the blend of federal and state...
The rights of injured maritime workers vary from those on land
There are many legal protections in place for workers who get hurt on the job. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a California worker who isn't at least somewhat aware of their rights to medical coverage and disability insurance under workers' compensation from...
Fatigue and distraction at sea top NTSB Most Wanted
Every two years, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) releases a Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. The list publicizes transportation dangers that could be reduced if only employers and workers focused their efforts on them. The...
Pre-Civil War era maritime law re-enters headlines
The year was 1838. Martin Van Buren was in the White House, California wouldn’t become a state for 12 more years, and Major League Baseball wouldn’t play ball for another 31 years. 1838 was also the year that lawmakers signed the Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute into...