San Diego Maritime Accident Lawyer

Are you a worker who was recently involved in an offshore accident near San Diego, CA? Getting compensation can be challenging because California’s personal injury and workers’ compensation laws might not apply to your accident. The San Diego maritime lawyers at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you win the money you deserve.

We’re award-winning trial lawyers with more than 43 years of combined experience representing injured workers like you. Let us roll up our sleeves, determine the best options for recovery, and fight to get you maximum compensation.

Your first case evaluation is free, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our San Diego law firm at (619) 777-5555 for help today.

How Our San Diego Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Maritime Accident 

How Our San Diego Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Maritime Accident

When an accident happens on a ship or navigable waters, things get complicated. Liability is often unclear, and that’s not something you should have to figure out when you’re trying to recover from serious injuries. Hiring one of our experienced personal injury attorneys is the best way to protect yourself.

At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re the advocates you deserve to have in your corner during this stressful and uncertain time. We know what you’re up against, and we have the experience and in-depth knowledge of state and federal law you need to win your case.

When you trust us with your maritime accident case, you can expect us to:

  • Carefully investigate the circumstances of your offshore accident and injuries
  • Determine which state and/or federal laws might apply to your situation and map out a plan for financial recovery
  • Work closely with leading experts in San Diego, California, as we gather and analyze evidence and build your case
  • Handle all negotiations with other parties on your behalf
  • Have an experienced California trial lawyer bring your case to a jury, if necessary.

Our goal is to help you get the money you deserve while you have the opportunity to focus on your recovery. Call us to get our experienced team involved in your personal injury case today.

What Are Maritime Accidents?

Maritime accidents typically refer to accidents that occur on ships, vessels, and commercial rigs – either out at sea or while docked at a port. 

More simply, maritime accidents are non-recreational boating accidents. They involve vessels or equipment that serve a commercial purpose.

Maritime accidents often involve:

  • Commercial fishing boats
  • Tugboats
  • Cruise ships
  • Offshore drilling rigs
  • Barges
  • Jack-Up rigs
  • Crude oil tankers
  • Cargo ships, and
  • Other commercial vessels.

Maritime accidents can occur out on the open water or at shipyards and ports, like those in and around San Diego.

We Handle All Maritime Accidents in San Diego, CA

Our personal injury attorneys represent clients who have been injured in maritime accidents such as:

  • Fires and explosions
  • Equipment failure or malfunction
  • Exposure to hazardous materials
  • Falling objects
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Collisions
  • Vessel groundings
  • Mechanical accidents
  • Drownings, and more.

Don’t hesitate to contact our law offices, conveniently located in San Diego, California, to learn more about our practice areas and find out how we can help after your maritime accident. We’re always here to take your call.

Maritime accidents typically involve commercial vessels or business activities, so workers are usually the ones to get hurt. However, in many cases, California personal injury laws and workers’ compensation laws don’t apply.

Instead, federal regulations and laws are in place to help injured workers seek compensation for job-related accidents.

Federal maritime laws that might apply could include, but aren’t limited to:

  • The Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act)
  • Longshore Act
  • Longshoreman & Harbor Workers Compensation Act
  • Death on the High Seas Act
  • Limitation of Liability Act, and
  • Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).

It’s important to make sure that you contact a personal injury lawyer in San Diego who is familiar with the specific laws and statutes that might apply to your situation.

Offshore Maritime Accidents Can Result in Serious, Catastrophic Injuries

Anytime an accident occurs on a boat or vessel, the consequences can be dire. At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we work hard to help our clients recover compensation for the serious and life-changing injuries they sustain.

These often include:

You should seek immediate medical attention after an accident on a ship or vessel in San Diego, California. Prompt care can be necessary to minimize risks associated with your injuries and to document the incident. Establishing a causal link between the accident and your trauma can be critical if you decide to pursue compensation.

What Compensation Can I Get For Maritime Accident Injuries?

Employers in the maritime industry are required to provide “maintenance and cure” benefits for workers who get hurt on the job. 

What is maintenance and cure? Maintenance refers to lost wages and living expenses related to an injury. Cure refers to reasonable medical expenses related to diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. 

They’re similar to workers’ compensation benefits available under California law. Workers can recover maintenance and cure benefits, regardless of fault.

Benefits must be paid until the worker is ready to resume work activities or they reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Other benefits may be available under specific federal regulations. For instance, a worker who is covered by the Jones Act may also be able to seek damages for unseaworthiness – which is effectively damages for pain and suffering. However, these damages are only awarded if the seaman can prove that their employer’s negligence – specifically in maintaining a seaworthy vessel – contributed to their accident.

Maritime accidents are complicated. The compensation that might be available to an injured worker can vary from case to case. The best course of action will involve contacting an experienced San Diego maritime accident lawyer for help as soon as possible after getting hurt. 

At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, our top-rated legal team will be here to offer the guidance and support you need while you fight to get back on your feet.

What Happens If I Share Blame For My San Diego Maritime Accident?

Sharing blame won’t automatically mean that you can’t recover compensation for maritime accident-related injuries. However, it will affect how much money you’ll be able to recover.

Comparative fault rules apply under maritime law, which means that your financial award will be adjusted to reflect your share of the blame. If you’re assigned 30% of the blame for getting hurt, then your settlement or verdict will be reduced by 30%.

It’s important to limit your liability. The less fault you’re assigned, the more money you can potentially get when your case is resolved. Our lawyers will be here to stand up and defend you and fight to maximize your recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Maritime Accident Lawsuit in California?

It depends on the type of claim you decide to file and which law – state or federal – applies. Most boating accidents in California are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Under federal maritime law, the statute of limitations is typically three years. 

Don’t let too much time go by after your accident before considering your legal options. You will lose the right to secure compensation if you fail to meet the deadline in your case. 

That would place the entire financial burden of your accident on your shoulders. That’s something that can probably be avoided – as long as you jump into action. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With our San Diego Maritime Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a maritime accident in or near San Diego, California? Have you lost a family member in a fatal maritime accident? Contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal options for recovery with an experienced San Diego maritime accident lawyer.

We have decades of experience and have won tens of millions of dollars for accident victims and their families. We’re tough negotiators and even tougher litigators in the courtroom. We are ready to do whatever we can to help you win compensation and get through these difficult times. 

Ready to get started? Give our law offices in San Diego a call to arrange a free consultation. Our team is always standing by to take your call 24/7/365.

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