Fatal Maritime Accidents
Biloxi, Mississippi Jones Act - Maritime Law Attorneys
Maritime work is dangerous and hard work. Passengers who are not workers face some unique dangers at sea as well. An accident that would have been survivable on land can quickly turn into a fatal maritime accident. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal maritime accident there are several avenues you may want to pursue to obtain wrongful death compensation. The experienced Mississippi maritime attorneys of Reeves & Mestayer, PLLC can help you during this difficult time.
Determining Which Laws Apply to Your Loved One’s Death
There are several laws which may apply in your case, depending on the circumstances. These include:
- The Jones Act
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- General maritime law
- State wrongful death law
If your loved one was covered by LHWCA you may be eligible for death benefits without a wrongful death lawsuit. Although those benefits are minimal, you do not have to prove fault.
Fatal Marine Accidents
Any kind of marine accident has the potential of becoming a deadly accident. Some types of maritime accidents that are often fatal include:
- Explosions
- Fires
- Collisions
- Mechanical failure
- Sinking
- Thrown overboard
- Helicopter crash
- Falling objects
- Decapitation
- Crushing
- Lost at sea
Causes of Fatal Maritime Accidents
Even though maritime work is inherently dangerous, fatal maritime accidents are often preventable. Even in some unpreventable accidents, lives can be saved. Determining the cause of a fatal maritime accident is crucial to proving who was responsible for your loved one’s death. Causes can include:
- Inadequate safety equipment
- Improper construction or inadequate maintenance of the vessel
- Failure to provide timely search and rescue
- Failure to provide adequate medical care
- Defective vessel or equipment
- Overloading or improper loading
- Understaffing or incompetent crew members
- Inadequate security
- Inadequate inspections
- Poor procedures, policies, or training
- Unsafe food preparation
- Failure to properly address weather conditions
If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance in Biloxi, Mississippi or anywhere on the Gulf Coast, please call Reeves & Mestayer, PLLC at (228) 374-5151 or toll free (877) 377-5152 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.