A lawsuit filed under General Maritime Law (maritime law) must be filed within 3 years of the accident.

Lawsuits filed under General Maritime Law

Lawsuits filed under general maritime law must be filed within three years of the accident that gives rise to the suit. These suits can be filed either in state court or federal court. There is no right to a trial by jury under a claim based solely on general maritime law. However, when a general maritime law claim is combined with another basis for jurisdiction within the court including the Jones Act and/or diversity of the parties, the injured party will have the right to a trial by jury.

Whereas only ‘seamen' can file suit under the Jones Act, any individual can file a suit under general maritime law if they have been involved in an accident which occurred on navigable waters. Typically passengers aboard cruise line vessels as well as offshore workers who are injured by non employer third parties will file their claims under general maritime law.


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