Have you been injured in a maritime accident near Palm Beach Gardens, Florida? Contact Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers at (561) 944-4000 to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced Palm Beach Gardens maritime accident lawyers can help you fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
We’ve been fighting for the rights of injured workers in Florida for more than a decade. Backed by 80+ years of combined experience, we’ve helped clients recover well over $500 million in damages. Don’t settle for less than what your maritime injury claim is worth. Demand the best results by trusting our team to fight for you.
Why Choose Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for Help After a Maritime Accident in Palm Beach Gardens, FL?
Maritime accident litigation can be incredibly complicated. During a time when you really need to focus on your recovery, it’s important to hire an experienced Palm Beach Gardens personal injury lawyer that you can trust to help you navigate a complex legal claim and achieve the best possible case results for you.
Members of our top-rated legal team are:
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization
- Former insurance defense attorneys
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 litigators
- Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Rated “Superb” on Avvo
We know the unique rules and regulations that will apply to your maritime injury case. We have the resources and strategies that’ll be needed to win your case and pursue fair compensation. Contact our Palm Beach Gardens maritime accident attorneys today for a free consultation.
Types of Maritime Accident Cases We Handle
Maritime accidents are those “occurring directly in connection with the normal operation of a marine vessel.” Put more simply, they’re accidents related to the sea. Maritime accidents can happen on vessels in navigation, fixed structures at sea, or on docks and in harbors on the coast.
Florida is a leader in the nation’s maritime industry. Workers from Palm Beach Gardens and other cities close to the sea put their lives on the line every day in dangerous maritime jobs.
At Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we’re proud to represent workers who’ve been injured in all types of maritime accidents, including:
- Commercial fishing accidents
- Drilling accidents
- Offshore gas and oil accidents
- Barge accidents
- Tugboat accidents
- Tanker accidents
- Ship collisions
- Cruise ship accidents
- Dredging accidents
- Shipbuilding accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Toxic exposure accidents
- Port accidents
Whether you spend your days on an oil rig, work for a vessel or ship, embark on deep-sea fishing expeditions for a living, or contribute to maritime activities on land, our maritime accident attorneys in Palm Beach Gardens can help you fight for compensation if you’ve been hurt on the job.
How Is Fault Determined in a Maritime Accident Case?
Determining fault in a maritime accident case involves a detailed investigation into how the incident occurred and who may be responsible. Evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, vessel maintenance records, and safety protocol violations are often used to assess liability.
Employers, vessel owners, and insurance companies may try to shift blame to reduce their financial responsibility, which makes it critical to build a strong, well-documented claim. An experienced attorney can help gather and present this evidence effectively to minimize your share of fault and maximize your potential recovery.
How Can Federal Maritime Law Help Me Recover Compensation for My Injuries?
Federal law generally has jurisdiction over maritime activities. So, when you’re involved in a maritime accident in Florida, federal rules and regulations will likely dictate how you can recover compensation, and from whom.
The United States has many protections in place for maritime workers. The two laws that are invoked most often in maritime injury cases are the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
The Jones Act
The Jones Act offers powerful protections for maritime workers who can be classified as seamen.
You can be considered a seaman and pursue compensation for job-related injuries if you:
- Work in support of a vessel in navigation, and
- Spend at least 30 percent of your time on board the vessel.
Your role must be somehow connected to the vessel’s operation or function.
As a seaman, you can qualify for maintenance and cure benefits if you’re injured in a maritime accident. Maintenance refers to benefits paid to support your daily living expenses while you recover, while cure benefits pay for your medical care.
The Jones Act also provides an opportunity to sue your employer if you were injured because of an unseaworthy vessel or their negligence.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is the maritime equivalent of workers’ compensation. It’s typically used by workers who don’t qualify for maintenance and cure benefits under the Jones Act, such as harbor construction workers, shipbuilders, or stevedores.
Workers on oil rigs and other non-navigable vessels/structures can also qualify for LHWCA benefits under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
Workers who qualify for benefits under the LHWCA can receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Temporary disability
- Permanent disability
- Death
Just like with Florida’s workers’ compensation system, maritime workers who recover benefits through the LHWCA generally waive the right to sue their employer for work-related injuries.
Maritime workers can also potentially file a civil lawsuit under Florida state law, too. In these situations, maritime lawsuits are generally based on grounds of negligence, product liability, or intentional torts like assault. With a lawsuit brought under Florida law, you can potentially recover compensation for your economic losses and harder-to-value pain and suffering.
What Is My Maritime Injury Claim Worth?
Many factors can impact the value of your maritime injury claim.
These might include:
- The types of injuries you’ve suffered
- What federal maritime law you’ll use to seek compensation
- Whether you can pursue damages under Florida law
- Whether your injuries are permanent
- How the maritime accident affects (and will affect) your ability to work
- Changes in your overall quality of life
- Your age and life expectancy
Our Florida maritime accident attorneys in Palm Beach Gardens will work hard to identify your damages and establish their value. The more we know about what your case is worth, the more power we’ll have when advocating for your right to recover compensation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Maritime Accident Attorney?
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers offers low-risk, high-reward legal representation because we fight for clients on a contingent basis. We front the costs of litigation. You pay nothing out of pocket. We only get paid when we win your maritime accident case.
Our fees come directly out of the monetary award we win on your behalf. The precise percentage depends on the type of claim and its complexity. If we don’t win money for you, you don’t pay us a thing.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Maritime Accident Lawsuits in Florida?
Different maritime laws set different time limits for pursuing compensation.
- The Jones Act: three years from the date of injury
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act: one year from the date of injury
- Florida civil lawsuit: two years from the date of injury
If someone you love has died in a fatal maritime accident in Florida, a two-year statute of limitations will generally apply to a related wrongful death case.
Don’t wait too long to consider your legal options. Once the statute of limitations for your maritime injury case runs out, you’ll lose the ability to demand compensation for your injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Palm Beach Gardens Maritime Accident Attorney
Call Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for help if you or a loved one has been hurt in a maritime accident near Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. You have rights as a maritime worker, and our experienced Palm Beach Gardens maritime accident lawyers can provide the exceptional legal service you need during this difficult time.
We’ve helped clients in Florida win hundreds of millions of dollars in the wake of tragic accidents. Now, we’re ready to invest 80+ years of experience and a winning reputation into your maritime accident case, too.