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Maritime and Admiralty Law in Alaska

The attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP represent injured seamen and their families in claims against vessel owners, maritime employers, and maritime insurance companies throughout Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and California.

If you or a loved one has been injured in the state of Alaska, contact the knowledgeable attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP today. It is important for you to know your rights, so you can get the compensation you are entitled to under the law.

Call 1 (800) 262-8529 today for a free initial consultation.

Maritime Attorneys in Alaska

Alaska is the largest state the United States. Located to the northwest of the continental U.S., Alaska has a maritime border with the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Alaska’s economy is dominated by the fishing, natural gas, mining, and oil industries. About half of Alaska’s residents live in the city of Anchorage, which has a population of about 291,826 people, Many of Alaska’s residents are seamen working in the maritime industry.

Seamen are referred to by the Courts as the “wards of admiralty,” which means they are protected by many unique maritime laws and eligible to file various types of claims, including for maintenance and cure, unearned wages, unseaworthiness, wrongful death, and negligence.

Unlike shore-side workers, an injured seaman is not covered by workers’ compensation laws. Rather, seamen may bring a claim under the Jones Act for the negligence of an employer, a captain, or fellow crewmembers.

Furthermore, under the general maritime law of unseaworthiness, a vessel owner owes all seamen working on their vessel an absolute duty to assure all vessel equipment and crew are fit for their intended purposes.

A seaman injured or killed due to faulty vessel equipment is entitled to compensation. The employer has a no-fault obligation to provide an injured seaman payment for medical bills and maintenance for all injuries occurring while the seaman was in the service of the vessel.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act was passed in 1920 to help injured seamen recover. Working on or around water can be very dangerous and maritime workers have an increased risk of on-the-job injury.

Depending on the circumstances of an incident, injured workers in or around Alaska may be days away from medical care in the case of an emergency.

As a result, the Jones Act provides special legal remedies to help ensure that injured seamen get appropriate compensation and care following an injury.

Because the Jones Act is very complex, it is important to speak with the attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP who are familiar with the issues and benefits of the Jones Act and can effectively represent your claim.


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Areas We Serve in Alaska

Our maritime lawyers at BoatLaw, LLP serve the following areas throughout Alaska:

  • Anchorage, AK
  • Kodiak, AK
  • Unalaska, AK
  • Juneau
  • Fairbanks
  • Badger
  • Knik-Fairview
  • College
  • Tanaina
  • Lakes
  • Wasilla
  • Sitka
  • Ketchikan
  • Kalifornsky
  • Kenai
  • Meadow Lakes
  • Steele Creek

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Alaska Resources

Anchorage Court System
825 W 4th Ave
Anchorage AK 99501-2004
(907) 264-0514

Kodiak Court System
204 Mission Road, Rm 124
Kodiak AK 99615-7312
(907) 486-1600

Unalaska Court System
204 West Broadway Ave
Unalaska, AK 99685-0245
(907) 581-1379

Appellate Courts
303 K Street
Anchorage AK 99501-2084
(907) 264-0612

http://alaska.gov/

Jones Act & Alaska Forest Products Trade: Visit this website to see the effects of the Jones Act on the Alaska forest products trade.

Alaska Court System: View this website to see information about the different courts one will need to go to in order to file a maritime claim.


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  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.