Maritime Law Blog

 
The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) passed in 1920 to help widows of seamen recover damages for their husband’s future earnings when deaths occurred in international waters.  It now provides recovery for the death of any person that is caused by negligence or a wrongful act more than three miles from a U.S. shore.  Claims may be filed by husbands, wives, parents, or children of the deceased.

  
Common causes for DOSHA cases include:

  
• Capsizing or sinking of a vessel at sea

• Fire or explosion at sea

• Inadequate maintenance or unseaworthiness

• Faulty heavy equipment

• Improper handling of cargo

• Improper training of vessel personnel

• Failure to provide prompt and/or adequate medical care in an emergency

  
It is important to know that claims under DOHSA can be extremely limited.  Cruise ship companies and other defendants use DOHSA to their advantage to limit the damages for which they are liable.  There is also a three year time limit for DOSHA suits.

  
Death on the High Seas Act cases and cases of wrongful maritime death can be extremely complicated.  If a family member has died while at sea, there are numerous maritime laws that might be relevant.  The lawyers at The Young Firm have strong backgrounds in maritime law and have successfully handled many DOHSA claims.  Contact our Gulf Coast maritime lawyers at 866-938-6113 for a free consultation.

Dock workers, shipyard workers and sailors on vessels built before 1980 may be at an increased risk of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure.  In fact, shipyard workers are one of the largest groups at-risk for developing asbestos-related disease; from 1990-1999, ship and boat building and repairing was the second highest occupational group of those dying from asbestos-related causes.

 
Before the risks of asbestos were recognized, asbestos was often used for its fire-retardant and heat-insulating properties.  In ships, asbestos was used to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes and nuclear reactors.  Asbestos use on American ships has been regulated since 1980; however it continues to be an occupational hazard on older ships.

 
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure and length of exposure.  Yet, even a short period of high level exposure can cause damage.  Symptoms may not appear for 20 or more years after exposure.  Click to read more about asbestos, mesothelioma, and asbestos-related illness.

 
If you are a maritime worker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, time is of the essence.  Contact the maritime injury attorneys at The Young Firm, 866-938-6113, for a free consultation about your rights. Our free book, Employees Guide to Maritime Injury Law, provides valuable advice for all injured maritime workers and answers commonly asked questions.  As an injured maritime industry worker, you do have rights and we’d like to help.