Maritime Law Firms

Maritime Law firms are those who specialize in maritime law, which is a specific area of law practice that encompasses those things that take place on the rivers and seas. Maritime law can extend beyond simply what happens on a boat, and also includes off shore work facilities such as off shore drilling rigs and, in many cases, extends to cover the wharves and docks in many port cities. The laws governing things such as trade regulations and worker protection and injury law are separate and distinct for these areas and may not follow the same precedents set in similar cases that take place on land. When dealing with maritime matters, it more than pays to have lawyers who specialize in this area of the law.

A Maritime Law firm, such as the Ogletree Abbott Law Firm, will also have partners who specialize completely in the Jones Act, a law that is designed for the protection of injured seamen. Many maritime laws are based upon ancient precepts and principles, and the American maritime laws have many statutes that are based on much more antiquated laws. This practice goes far outside the scope of what many lawyers study on a regular basis, again reinforcing the need for specialists when it comes to dealing with any legal matters that involve the sea.

Maritime law firms handle matters for a wide variety of people that work in or around the maritime industries. Workers that work aboard vessels of all natures, many off shore oil workers, and others who are employed on almost anything that spends the majority of its time in the water. There are maritime law firms that deal in both personal injury law and trade law when it comes to maritime law specifically. These can be two very different matters though, as personal injury law deals with the Jones Act and simply American maritime law, whereas maritime lawyers involved in trade often have to deal with international laws and shipping regulations in addition to the American legal statutes regarding maritime matters.    

Because this is such a highly specialized area of practice, whenever a person is required to have dealings in a court that touch upon maritime law, it is highly recommended to retain the services of someone employed by a specialized maritime law firm. Especially when dealing with any kind of personal injury claim against a maritime employer, it is nearly guaranteed that the employer will have a lawyer on staff that specializes in these sorts of claims. In order to have a chance against a large company’s legal team in situations such as these, an employee needs to have a lawyer on their side that is well versed in the specific laws and guidelines that comprise this specific niche of legal practice. Members of a competent maritime law firm will be familiar with all aspects of the Jones Act and are the best equipped lawyers to assist you in any kind of workers injury claim relating to an incident while at sea or while employed on a ship of any kind.

If you have questions or concerns in regards to maritime law, contact us. the Ogletree Abbott Law Firm Law Firm specializes in maritime law and the Jones Act. We can help.