Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers - 450 7th Ave Suite 1605, New York, NY 10123 - Personal Injury Lawyers in NYC

NYC Maritime Accident Lawyer

Click For Your Free Consulation

NYC Maritime Accident Lawyer

NYC Maritime Accident Lawyer

Were you or a family member injured in a maritime accident near NYC? You deserve an experienced NYC maritime accident lawyer in your corner. The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover full financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other accident-related losses.

Our attorney has over 25 years of experience in personal injury law. Over the years, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for injury victims and their families.

If you were injured in an accident off the coast of NYC, we’re here to help. Contact our personal injury law firm in New York, New York at (212) 564 2800 to schedule your 100% free consultation today.

How Can the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Maritime Accident in NYC?

How Can the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Maritime Accident in NYC?

Maritime workers often risk their safety on a daily basis. You work hard for a living. You should expect fair compensation when you’re injured on the job. Unfortunately, maritime employers won’t always make it easy to recover the money you deserve.

An experienced NYC personal injury attorney can handle the fight for compensation while you recover.

The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers is an award-winning firm in NYC. We’ve recovered some of the largest settlements and verdicts in New York City.

When you hire our AV-rated lawyer, we will:

  • Listen to your story and identify all sources of compensation
  • Investigate and collect evidence to prove you deserve compensation
  • Retain experts when their testimony can strengthen your claim for compensation
  • Handle the paperwork and administrative aspects of the claims process
  • Protect you if your employer claims your injuries weren’t work-related
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full settlement
  • File a lawsuit and take your case to court if needed

The laws governing maritime injuries are complicated. Our NYC personal injury lawyer knows the ropes and understands how to navigate the system. Contact us today to get the legal assistance you deserve.

Maritime Accidents: An Overview

The term “maritime accident” typically refers to accidents at sea. Maritime accidents, however, are different from accidents involving recreational boats. Most maritime accident claims involve complex maritime and admiralty law. These accidents generally involve maritime workers.

For example, maritime accidents typically involve seamen or someone working aboard:

  • Cargo ships
  • Marine cranes
  • Tugboats
  • Cruise lines
  • Commercial ferry services
  • Commercial fishing boats
  • Shrimp boats
  • Crude oil tankers
  • Barges
  • Diving support vessels
  • Offshore drilling rigs
  • Jack-Up rigs

Maritime accidents can also involve accidents that occur in shipyards, wharves, or docks.

When you’re injured while working as a seaman or on or near navigable waters, it’s important to have an attorney with experience handling maritime injury cases. That’s because these cases are different from your typical personal injury case. They involve different sets of laws and can also be much more difficult to prove when compared to accidents that occur on dry land.

If you or a family member were injured in a maritime accident, call the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers for legal advice today. We know the law, and we know how to help.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Maritime Accident Victims in New York City?

The damages that are available depend on the laws that govern your case. When you’re injured as a maritime worker, New York State workers’ compensation benefits aren’t typically available. You’ll have to turn to federal law to recover compensation.

Depending on the circumstances, your case could involve:

The Jones Act (or Merchant Marine Act)

The Jones Act is a federal law that protects workers who are classified as “seamen”.

A seaman is a worker who:

  • Spends more than 30% of their time aboard a vessel and contributing to its function
  • Plays a substantial role in the operation of a seagoing vessel
  • Has a direct connection to the vessel

Injured seamen are entitled to “maintenance and cure” benefits. Maintenance and cure benefits cover both medical costs and living expenses during recovery. You can receive maintenance and cure regardless of who was responsible for your injuries. You won’t have to prove negligence.

When your injuries occurred because your employer was negligent and failed to maintain the vessel in seaworthy conditions, you can recover additional damages.

Those damages might include:

  • Disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Depression
  • Humiliation
  • Loss of consortium and damage to relationships

Recovering fair compensation isn’t automatic. You’ll have to prove your employer was negligent to recover damages above and beyond maintenance and cure. Even when negligence isn’t a factor, your employer might not make it easy to recover fair compensation.

Longshoremen & Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA)

The LHWCA may apply if you don’t meet the definition of “seaman” for Jones Act purposes.

The LHWCA benefits are often available to workers on:

  • Docks
  • Piers
  • Shipping areas
  • Wharves
  • Terminals
  • U.S. navigable waters

LHWCA benefits are very similar to state workers’ comp benefits. They’ll include medical care and disability payments. Your disability payments will depend on the level of disability you have experienced.

In cases involving permanent disabilities, you may also qualify for vocational rehabilitation benefits to prepare you for a new line of work.

New York Personal Injury Laws

You may also have rights under New York State law. If personal injury law governs your case, you can seek compensation for all economic and non-economic damages.

Examples include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Physical therapy
  • Rehabilitation
  • Nursing care
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • PTSD
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Physical disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of consortium

Consult an experienced attorney if you were injured while working at sea. Your lawyer can evaluate the facts and identify the laws that apply to your case.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Maritime Injury Lawyer?

The Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers operates on a contingency fee basis. We know that money can be tight after an injury. Instead of charging upfront fees, we take a percentage of the compensation we recover in your case.

If we do not recover damages for you, your attorney’s fees are zero.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Maritime Accident in New York?

In cases involving state law, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. You won’t lose your right to compensation unless you were entirely responsible.

Your rights to benefits under the Jones Act or LHWCA aren’t impacted by shared fault. If you’re being blamed, our lawyer can respond effectively so that you can maintain your claim’s value.

Our Team in NYC Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Maritime Accident Injuries

At the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of maritime injury claims, including those involving:

  • Broken bones
  • Nerve injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Hypothermia
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Dislocations and other joint injuries
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Burns
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Our NYC maritime accident attorney offers free case reviews. Even if you’re still recovering in the hospital, we can come to you. Contact our law offices today to arrange a time to learn about your legal options.

What Causes Most Maritime Accidents in NYC?

Like your ordinary car accident, maritime accidents tend to happen because someone was careless.

Our team often handles maritime injury cases involving:

  • Lack of proper safety equipment
  • Communication failures
  • Damaged equipment and failure to maintain the vessel
  • Negligent hiring practices, including failure to properly train or supervise employees
  • Fatigued or distracted maritime workers
  • Ignoring state and federal safety regulations
  • Mechanical failures
  • Dangerous conditions aboard the vessel
  • Negligent security
  • Fires and explosions
  • Exposure to hazardous substances
  • Dangerous water conditions
  • Faulty vessel designs
  • Defective safety equipment
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Falls overboard

Identifying the cause of your injuries is often the key to recovering full compensation. Our lawyers in NYC have the tools to get to the bottom of it.

How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After a Maritime Accident in New York?

The deadline for filing a claim depends on the laws that govern your case.

For LHWCA claims, you have 30 days to notify your employer about the injury. In Jones Act cases, you usually have three years from the date of the accident to file a formal claim for compensation.

Under New York law, the statute of limitations gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit.

In any case, waiting too long is never a good idea – and there are exceptions that can change these time limits in some circumstances. You will lose your right to compensation if you miss the deadline. Waiting to take legal action also makes it much more difficult for your lawyer to find the strong evidence you need to support your case.

Contact a Skilled NYC Maritime Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

Accidents at sea can be incredibly dangerous. If you were injured in a maritime accident, call the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers to start building your claim today. With an experienced NYC maritime accident lawyer on your team, you greatly improve your chances of recovering every dollar you deserve.

Search Our Site

Our Locations

New York City Office 

450 7th Ave Suite 1605
New York, NY 10123
(212) 564 2800

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury - New York City Office in 450 Seventh Ave., Suite 1605 New York, New York 10123

 

Brooklyn Office 

26 Court St., Suite 2511
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 802-1600

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury - Brooklyn Office in 26 Court St., Suite 2511 Brooklyn, New York 11242

 

We are available to take your call 24/7

 

Call Now Button