Your Personal Injury Toolkit

Dos and Dont’s of Maritime Injury

Here is a list of "dos" and "don'ts" for those navigating an injury at sea or in a potential maritime situation:

DO:

Consult with competent legal counsel if you believe you may have a claim for injury.

DO:

Ask a lot of questions, including (1) “What are my rights?”; (2) “Do I have a case?”; and (3) “What assistance and compensation can I expect?”.

DO:

Expect that there may be unique laws, legal requirements, and claim procedures that apply to your situation if you have been injured at sea or in a maritime-related situation.

DO:

Consult with your attorney (if you already have one) before making a change in attorneys about any questions, concerns, and uncertainties you may have.

DO:

Expect that if you retain an attorney, your rights will be fully protected and that you will obtain the benefits and compensation to the fullest extent allowed by law.

DO:

Take the time and make the commitment to discuss a potential claim on a no-obligation basis with an appropriate legal representative if you believe you have been injured.

DON'T:

Delay in consulting with an attorney, as a claim limitation period may apply. If you do not consult with an attorney in a timely fashion, the time limit on your claim may have already expired and your claim could be barred.

DON'T:

Rely on uninformed advice – or the advice of people who do not have your interests in mind. Entities like employers or insurance companies have an interest in minimizing the amount of your claim or recovery.

DON'T:

Assume what you have been told by your employer, your claims representative, or your uninformed friend is necessarily true or correct.

DON'T:

Assume your case or claim has a particular value – regardless of: (1) what you believe you know about your injury; or (2) on your understanding of the liability (or lack thereof) on the part of any potentially responsible party.

DON'T:

Expect that you will get the same recovery as someone else did in what you consider to be a similar injury or case. Maritime injury cases are complex, and no two cases are exactly alike.

DON'T:

Rely solely on advertising or solicitation when deciding whether to retain counsel and, if so, who to retain. This advice applies to this website just as much as any other firm’s website. Choosing an attorney is an important decision, and you should be sure to carefully consider your options.