General Maritime Law

General Maritime Law provides seamen with rights outside the Jones Act and encompasses the common law actions available for maritime incidents. It also extends to families of deceased maritime workers and to non-seamen who are injured while engaged in maritime activities.

Maritime Claims

General maritime law incorporates stringent standards concerning product liability claims and provides causes of action for wrongful death and negligence. Some of the most important claims for seamen include maintenance and cure, negligence against a third party and the unseaworthiness of a vessel. The term ''vessel'' can mean a ship or boat, but is also extended to include offshore oil rigs, barges, jack-up rigs, semisubmersibles etc.

General maritime claims also include claims of Jones Act seamen and longshoremen against any responsible third party non-employers for negligence causing or contributing to injury or death.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations on general maritime law claims is three years from the date of the incident. However, there are certain factors that could potentially shorten or lengthen the statute of limitation on action taken.

In general, punitive damages and attorney fees are not recoverable under general maritime law in cases involving seamen against their employer. A Jones Act seaman may collect punitive damages against a non-employer third party if the claim falls within general maritime law and not under the Jones Act or any other federal statute.

If you have been involved in a maritime incident which you believe falls under general maritime law, contact an admiralty and maritime attorney at Bailey & Galyen to pursue the compensation you deserve.