Maritime Injury Lawyers

Welcome to BoatLaw, LLP

Your admiralty and maritime law firm serving the Pacific Coast of the U.S.A. and beyond

• BoatLaw, LLP – Mission Statement
• Maritime Law in the United States
• Decades of Experience in Routine and Complex Maritime Accident Cases
• Top 6 Things for Injured Seamen and Maritime Workers to Keep in Mind
• Maritime Lawyers Practicing Civil Trial Law in U.S. Federal Courts
• Your Rights After a Maritime or Longshore Accident
• Hiring a Maritime Lawyer in Washington, Oregon, Alaska or California

Our Mission Statement

DILIGENCE – We have never been, and will never be, a volume firm. At BoatLaw, LLP, your case will not be just another number — you will know us and our team well and we will know you well. At all times, your case will be treated with care and recognition of its uniqueness.

BELIEF IN OUR CLIENTS – Our clients are our greatest resource. We will spend the time, energy, and resources necessary to understand your entire story and case to earn the best possible result for you. Throughout the process of assisting you with your claim, we will be compassionate, pragmatic, respectful, and communicative while relentlessly pursuing the most favorable resolution of your case.

PROVEN SUCCESS – Our track record of decades of success demonstrates our expertise and steadfast commitment to crewmembers, passengers, and their families. Our expertise in maritime law is coupled with an attitude of openness and eagerness (otherwise known as a “beginner’s mindset”). We will always tailor our approach to your unique case.

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Maritime Law in the United States

Technology has done much to automate traditional worker roles over the decades, but technology can never replace the hardworking men and women who work tirelessly on or around sea vessels. Maritime workers, including seamen and longshoremen, continue to bear the heavy and often hazardous burden of working in the maritime industry.

Safety training and the use of proper equipment can help minimize the occurrence of an accident, but human error, dangerous ship conditions, and the unpredictability of Mother Nature can quickly lead to a serious incident. What happens to the deckhand who can’t handle lines anymore due to a ruptured disc? The fish processor with constant back pain from a repetitive stress injury? The grieving wife who lost her husband due to a vessel sinking?

Courts in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska– both federal and state– allow victims of maritime accidents and their loved ones to pursue compensation after an accident. Seamen can bring legal action against their employers, while longshoremen can bring third-party claims against shipowners for injuries sustained aboard vessels.

Claims for monetary damages can also be brought against third-party vendors or contractors who can be held liable under the general maritime law for industrial accidents that cause injuries to maritime workers.

Pursuing the compensation you or your loved one need does not have to add to your already heavy burden. An experienced maritime lawyer in Seattle, Bellingham, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Portland can hold the relevant parties accountable for your injuries.

Maritime attorneys Doug Williams and Nick Neidzwski at BoatLaw, LLP can help you navigate these difficult times and secure a resolution that provides reasonable compensation for both the short-term and the long-term. You have suffered enough – it’s time to let somebody else fight on your behalf.

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Decades of Experience in Complex Maritime Accident Cases

Our law practice here at BoatLaw, LLP spans up and down the West Coast of the U.S.A. and beyond. With convenient office locations in Seattle, Bellingham, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, our maritime attorneys understand what it takes to prepare a strong case and spare no reasonable expense in fighting for your rights. Our attorneys have decades of experience practicing civil litigation and civil trial law and are focused on the pursuit of justice on behalf of our clients. Protecting the rights of injured maritime professionals from San Diego to the Pacific Northwest to the Alaska Coastline is our mission. From the moment you first contact our personal injury firm, you will see our commitment to your cause.

Maritime law can be complex – it is in your best interests to work with an attorney highly focused on this aspect of the law. At BoatLaw, LLP, we have successfully recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients in a wide variety of maritime cases across the North Pacific and Atlantic coasts, including the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. We confidently pursue maritime claims against the largest companies in the maritime industry and their insurance companies.

Our experience extends to accidents involving slip-and-falls, explosions, factory processing accidents, equipment defects, unsafe ladders/causeways, port collisions, crane accidents, inadequate safety training, decompression related injuries, and unsafe working conditions.

We have seen firsthand the impact that a serious accident can have on a person, both physically and mentally. Lost limbs, head injuries, back injuries, repetitive use injuries, shoulder injuries, spinal cord injuries, and chemical burns are not uncommon in the fast-paced maritime world. However, that is no excuse when an accident is caused because of the negligence of the employer or a third party.

Maritime attorneys Douglas Williams and Nick Neidzwski at BoatLaw, LLP are proud to continue fighting for justice on behalf of commercial fishermen, dock workers, deckhands, ferry workers, oil rig workers, commercial divers, and merchant mariners.

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Six Important DOs and DON’Ts for Injured Seamen and Maritime Workers

After an accident, your world can quickly turn upside down. With the stress of worrying about your injuries and your ability to work, you may inadvertently do something that can hurt your future legal case. There are actions and inactions that can impact your chances of receiving reasonable compensation for the losses caused by your injuries.

After an accident, keep the following in mind:

Do report your accident to your supervisor. Even if you don’t notice the severity of your injury until the next day, it’s important to complete an accident report or make an entry in the vessel’s logbook. Ask for a copy of anything you sign. If your vessel has a medical officer, speak with him or her about what care is available onboard and discuss when you can seek professional help at the next port.

1. Do see a doctor as soon as you’re able after an accident. Obtaining the care you need is your primary concern. Make sure to explain to the doctor or nurse how your injury occurred. This will assist the physician in diagnosing your condition and also serves to create another level of documentation for your injury claim. You are entitled to be treated by a doctor of your choosing. Under the Maintenance and Cure doctrine, medical expenses will be covered by your employer.
2. Do NOT give a statement, official or otherwise, to your employer or their insurance company. While you may have a positive relationship with your employer or other crew members, this does not mean they are on your side. Your words may be used to build a case against you by your employer and its insurance company.
3. Do consult with an attorney before agreeing to a settlement. Maritime businesses and their insurance companies are primarily concerned with profits and their bottom line. Paying you fair and honest compensation for your losses is not how insurance companies make money. They may shortchange you, leaving you high and dry down the road. An experienced attorney will make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.
4. Do NOT go back to work until you have physically and mentally recovered. You may feel pressure from an employer to hurry back. Do not return to work without clearance from your personal physician. You do not want to aggravate your injuries and potentially sustain permanent damage. If you are pursuing a legal claim, consult with an attorney about your options.
5. Do file a maritime accident claim as soon after the accident as possible. Not only are you limited in the time you can act and file a claim after an accident, but a lengthy delay can also weaken your case in some situations. Keep in mind that certain evidence, statements, and documentation may be time-sensitive and waiting too long to seek these items can affect your available legal options.
6. Do speak with a maritime lawyer in Washington, California, Oregon, or Alaska who you can trust to represent your interests. Our lawyers can provide you with legal advice that will help you navigate your general maritime law and Jones Act claims.

Our maritime lawyers with offices in Bellingham and Seattle, WA, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, and Portland, OR have successfully represented many clients throughout the years, recovering millions of dollars.

The attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP understand that no two cases are the same. Even if the general circumstances that resulted in the injuries are similar, the smallest details can make all the difference in establishing liability and obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries.

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Maritime Lawyers Practicing Civil Trial Law in U.S. Federal Courts

Maritime attorneys Douglas Williams and Nick Neidzwski at BoatLaw, LLP have earned outstanding legal reputations throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and California. Our attorneys have spent decades providing honest and hardworking representation for those affected by maritime accidents.

We focus exclusively on maritime cases and regularly represent merchant mariners, commercial fisherman, dockworkers, processors, and other maritime workers from a variety of backgrounds all along the coast. Our clients understand that when we take on their case, we mean business.

We understand your concerns during these uncertain times. You may not know if a full medical recovery is possible, much less how long it will take. You’re probably concerned about how you will recover the wages you’ve lost while out of work letting your injuries heal. Perhaps you’re even worried that you will be blacklisted from future employment if you exercise your right to legal action. When you’re pressured to return to work but don’t feel you’re ready, this can quickly turn into a storm of stress. The law firm of BoatLaw, LLP is here to help.

We pride ourselves on our proactive and thorough approach to every case we take. We conduct a full investigation into the liability issues in every case as well as a complete examination of the medical consequences of the accident. Our dedicated admiralty lawyers are experienced trial veterans and strategic negotiators. Whether your situation benefits most from trial or settlement, we will vigorously pursue your goals and fight for maximum compensation.

With offices in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, this maritime law firm is ready to start fighting for you. Our lawyers have handled hundreds of cases involving shipboard injuries, portside accidents, and wrongful death from coast to coast.

Our attorneys are experienced in both trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Florida, and even the Supreme Court of the United States, and have successfully litigated cases that resulted in court decisions establishing important maritime precedents.

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Your Rights After a Maritime or Longshore Accident

Injured maritime workers and the immediate family members of those who perish at sea can pursue legal recourse under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, and general maritime law. These laws give injured seamen and dockworkers the right to pursue legal action and collect compensation:

• Jones Act – The Jones Act, or Merchant Marine Act of 1920, helps seamen who are injured at work recover from their injuries. It covers claims for negligence in which an employer or your coworker fails to act within their expected duty of care. The Jones Act imposes liability upon maritime employers for injuries to crewmembers whenever the proof justifies the conclusion that the employer’s negligence played any part, even the slightest, in producing the injury for which damages are sought.
• Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act – The LHWCA covers longshoremen, dock workers, crane operators and other land-based maritime employees. It operates similarly to landside workers’ compensation in that it automatically entitles employees injured on the job to benefits while they are undergoing medical care.
• Death on the High Seas Act – DOHSA allows family members and loved ones to recover if a seaman or passenger is killed outside of the territorial waters of the United States. While DOHSA does not cover loss of consortium, it does allow loved ones to recover for funeral expenses, loss of support, and other monetary losses.
• General Maritime Law – If you or your loved one’s injury is not covered under a specific statute, it is likely covered under general maritime law. Under general maritime law, you are guaranteed a right to maintenance and cure and unearned wages. This means that, after an injury or an illness, you should receive payments for your medical care while you recover. Additionally, general maritime law provides a cause of action for unseaworthiness when a ship or its equipment is not reasonably fit for its intended purpose.

Who to file your claim against and where depends greatly on the specific circumstances and the applicable law. For instance, a Jones Act negligence claim is filed against your employer, while an unseaworthiness claim is filed against the ship’s owner. Typically, we will file claims against both the employer and ship’s owner and argue both causes of action to help you receive the full compensation you need.

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Hiring a BoatLaw, LLP Maritime Accident Lawyer

We maintain offices in Bellingham and Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon. Maritime attorneys Douglas Williams and Nick Neidzwski at BoatLaw, LLP share a love of the sea and are passionate about protecting the rights of members of the maritime community. Our clients come from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures.

Call 1 (800) 262-8529 (1-800-BOATLAW) to schedule your one-on-one consultation with an attorney at BoatLaw, LLP today. Your initial discussion with a qualified attorney (never a paralegal or law clerk) is a prime opportunity to learn more about your legal options in a pressure-free setting.

We always encourage our clients as well as prospective clients to make the most informed decision based on their unique circumstances. Getting legal guidance from an experienced maritime attorney is critical to making the best decision for your claims. Our firm is ready to provide you with that guidance.