Personal Injury Maritime Admiralty Attorney in Brandon
Maritime and admiralty law is a specialized legal body governing ships, shipping, and maritime workers. Curry Law Group provides experienced representation for maritime injury victims throughout the Tampa Bay Area.
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Understanding Maritime and Admiralty Law
Maritime law is a legal body that regulates ships and shipping. Modern admiralty law has its origins in classical Rhodian law. Admiralty law is characterized by a significant amount of international law developed in recent decades, including numerous multilateral treaties. It is distinguished from the Law of the Sea, which is a body of public international law dealing with navigational rights, mineral rights, and jurisdiction over coastal waters.
Services a Maritime Attorney Can Offer
A maritime attorney can assist with: purchase and sale agreements, financing or escrow concerns, employment agreements, warranty claims, fractional ownership agreements, broker representation, tax planning, and foreclosures/repossessions/liens. Our maritime attorneys handle cases ranging from recreational boat accidents to commercial vessel injuries and cargo disputes.
Maritime Worker Rights
Maritime workers have unique legal rights under federal maritime law, including the Jones Act for seamen injured through employer negligence, maintenance and cure benefits regardless of fault, and the unseaworthiness doctrine. These specialized laws provide important protections that differ significantly from standard workers' compensation laws. Understanding these rights is critical to receiving full compensation.
How Curry Law Group Can Help
If you have a loved one who rode on a passenger ship or who is working in the maritime industry and suffered injuries while performing their work, consulting a maritime or admiralty lawyer is your best option. Maritime lawyers specialize in dealing with cases involving marine commerce, seafarers, shipping and the transport of goods and passengers at sea. Please contact The Curry Law Group for legal counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jones Act? A federal law allowing injured seamen to sue their employers for negligence, providing stronger protections than standard workers' compensation. What are maintenance and cure benefits? A seaman's right to daily living expenses and medical treatment after a maritime injury, regardless of who was at fault. What is the statute of limitations for maritime claims? Generally three years, but it varies by claim type. Contact us immediately after any maritime injury.
Contact Curry Law Group Today
Please contact The Curry Law Group for legal counsel or legal representation. We service the entire Tampa Bay Area and would like the chance to represent you. Please fill out the form on this page or contact our office today. Call 813-653-2500.
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Key Legal Terms
Important Personal Injury Terms
Understanding these terms can help you make informed decisions about your case.
Assumption of Risk
A defense arguing the injured person voluntarily accepted the known dangers of an activity. In Florida, it can reduce or bar recovery depending on the type of risk assumed.
Read full definitionBad Faith Insurance
An insurer's unreasonable refusal to settle or pay a valid claim. In Florida, a bad faith claim can expose the insurer to damages beyond the policy limits.
Read full definitionBreach of Duty
A failure to meet the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Breach of duty is a required element of any negligence claim.
Read full definitionBurden of Proof
The obligation of a party to prove a disputed fact. In most personal injury cases, the injured person bears the burden of proving each element of their claim by a preponderance of the evidence.
Read full definitionCausation
The link between a defendant's conduct and the plaintiff's injury. A plaintiff must prove both actual cause (but-for) and proximate cause to recover damages.
Read full definitionCausation Letter
A doctor's written opinion that your injury was caused by the accident. Insurance companies often require this note to connect your pain to the incident before they will pay.
Read full definitionStart Consultation
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Curry Law Group — Personal Injury Series
Watch our attorneys break down real personal injury scenarios, evidence tips, and what to expect after an accident in Hillsborough County.
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What Rights Do Injured Maritime Workers Have?
An injured maritime worker's rights depend heavily on the worker's legal status, job duties, relationship to a vessel, location of the accident, employer, and cause of the injury. A qualifying seaman may have rights under the Jones Act, general maritime law, and the doctrines of maintenance and cure and unseaworthiness.
Read MoreWho Is Liable for an Injury That Happens at Sea?
Liability for an injury at sea depends on who was injured, why that person was aboard, where the incident occurred, who controlled the vessel or activity, and which maritime law applies. Potentially responsible parties include the maritime employer, vessel owner, operator, charterer, crew members, cruise line, shore-excursion company, equipment manufacturer, and others.
Read MoreHow Are Maritime Injury Claims Different From Other Personal Injury Claims?
Maritime injury claims can differ from ordinary personal injury cases in the governing law, available remedies, worker classification, filing deadlines, court procedure, liability standards, damages, insurance, and geographic reach. An injury aboard a vessel or near navigable water does not automatically create one uniform maritime claim.
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Forms & Common Questions
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Personal Injury Questionnaire
Complete this before your consultation if you've been injured in an accident.
Top-Asked Questions
In Florida, you typically have four years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, this deadline (called the statute of limitations) can vary depending on the type of injury and circumstances. It's important to act quickly because evidence can disappear and witness memories fade. We recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an injury.
You may recover damages for medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving gross negligence or intentional acts, you might also be eligible for punitive damages. The specific damages available depend on your injury and the circumstances of your case.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial. During settlement negotiations, we work with insurance companies to reach a fair agreement for your injuries and losses. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, we're fully prepared to take your case to trial. We'll never pressure you to accept a settlement you're not comfortable with.
The value of your case depends on many factors: the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disability, pain and suffering, and the strength of liability evidence. We provide a thorough case evaluation during your consultation. Insurance companies often undervalue claims—that's why having an experienced attorney is crucial.
Florida uses "comparative negligence" rules. Even if you're partially at fault, you may still recover damages—reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you're 20% at fault and damages are $100,000, you'd recover $80,000. However, if you're found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
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