Maritime Attorney – Serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and Beyond

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We are committed to protecting victims' rights at Hickey Law Firm, P.A. If you .htmlor someone you love has suffered an injury in a maritime accident, including cruise ship accidents, assaults, and yachting accidents, we can help. Attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey has extensive experience with maritime and admiralty law and can provide you with the representation you need to obtain a successful case resolution. If you are seeking a maritime attorney in the Greater Miami area, including Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach County, look no further than our law firm. Contact our Miami law office today to schedule a free consultation.

What is admiralty and maritime law?

Admiralty and maritime law is a specific body of law that governs cases involving potential offenses at sea. Admiralty law differs from the Law of the Sea in that it is a private international body of law that governs private entities in matters of dispute. Under admiralty law, ship owners and operators have a duty of reasonable care to all passengers and seamen. In the event of an injury accident, a passenger may be able to bring a personal injury claim against the ship owner. Admiralty law is unique and complex; if you are seeking legal counsel regarding an admiralty case, you need an experienced maritime attorney. Serving Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and beyond, John H. (Jack) Hickey has the experience, resources, and knowledge you are looking for.

I was injured on a cruise. Am I eligible for compensation?

Ship owners and operators owe customers a duty of care. It is the responsibility of the cruise line to ensure that no unreasonable risks are present on a vessel that can cause injury to a passenger. If you or someone you love has been injured on a cruise as a result of an unreasonable risk or the negligent actions of a cruise employee, it may be possible to file a claim against the cruise line. Cruise lines, including Carnival Corporation (Carnival Cruise Lines), Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and Norwegian Cruise Lines are large corporations with extensive resources and vigorously defend their interests in court. It is best to seek legal counsel from an experienced maritime attorney if you are planning on filing suit against a cruise operator.

What compensation can I receive for my injuries?

Every case is different, and the value of your claim cannot be determined without first thoroughly examining the circumstances of your injury. However, the plaintiff can typically obtain compensation for medical costs (including rehabilitation costs and future medical costs related to the injury), loss of wages (including future wages), inhibited earning capacity, and pain and suffering. If a loved one has been killed in a cruise ship accident, maritime attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey can help your family file a wrongful death claim against the liable parties. In such instances, we can help your family obtain compensation for medical costs, funerary costs, and emotional pain and suffering.

What is the Jones Act? Can I file a claim?

The Jones Act is a body of law that applies to seamen injured on the job. The Jones Act, like FELA for rail employees, is typically the sole source of compensation in the event a seaman is injured in the course of his or her employment. Unlike workers' compensation, which is designed to compensate injured workers a pre-determined amount without the need for legal action, maritime accidents must be heard before a court, and the injured worker must prove negligence or liability on the part of the employer.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a maritime accident while on the job, you may be eligible to file a claim. To learn more, contact maritime attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey today. Serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and beyond, Mr. Hickey has extensive experience with maritime law, and he will work diligently to help ensure you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Do I need a maritime attorney?

Cruise lines are billion-dollar companies that will bring their extensive resources to bear in the defense of their interests. If you are looking to file a civil claim against a cruise line or you are interested in filing a claim under the Jones Act, it is in your best interest to seek legal representation from an experienced and diligent maritime attorney. Admiralty law is complex and can prove daunting to anyone who lacks an intimate familiarity its clauses. To provide yourself with the best opportunity of obtaining the compensation you are entitled to, you need a maritime attorney.

STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS: WHAT IS THIS AND WHEN DO I HAVE TO ACT?

I got a call the other day from an attorney in Pennsylvania. He said that his client was raped (“sexually assaulted”) on a cruise ship and that she-the client- had reported it to the FBI. So far, the client did what she should have done.

Then he said that the sexual assault took place about 2 ½ years ago. Oops. I told the lawyer that the one year statute of limitations in her ticket (the cruise line “passenger contract ticket”) had passed and there is nothing I could do now. It is too late to bring a claim.

The cruise lines have included in the fine print on all of the passenger tickets the terms under which you have to bring a claim against them. They say when (usually within one year of the accident or incident) and where (Miami, Florida if it is Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, or Celebrity Cruise Lines). By the way, in order to bring a claim in Florida, it is best to contact a Florida attorney. Each state licenses attorneys to practice only in that state.

Then I asked why she waited so long. He said that the passenger was told by the FBI agent investigating the rape that the statute of limitations was 3 years. Oh well. So much for advice from someone who is not a maritime lawyer. (It is true generally that the statute of limitations for maritime claims is 3 years. However, the cruise lines can limit that to one year, and of course they do in the ticket terms).

This is not meant to be legal advice or to explain everything about statutes of limitations or something you can rely on to determine what your statute of limitations is. To know about that, call a lawyer who knows about the field in which you have a claim.

But here are some of the concepts: The “statute of limitations” for a claim is a general term which means the time within which you have to file a lawsuit. First, it is not always expressed in a statute. Sometimes it is in a contract like a passenger ticket. And there are provisions in some statutes, commonly in medical malpractice statutes, that it starts (“begins to run”) from when you knew or should have known about the medical malpractice. This does not apply to claims for medical malpractice against the cruise lines.

Second, there are different periods of time or statutes of limitations for different types of claims, and the statute can be different in each state. Generally, for maritime seaman’s claims the statute is 3 years; for passengers it is 1 year. Generally, in Florida, for general negligence it is 4 years; for wrongful death it is 2 years; and for medical malpractice it is 2 years.

Third, the only way to stop the clock, beat the deadline, or as the law says “toll the statute” is to file a lawsuit. The clock is not stopped just by reporting the accident. You have to file suit. That means that you have to contact an attorney in time for him or her to evaluate and investigate the claim and to prepare and file a complaint in court. If you wait until the day the statute runs out or the day before it may be too late to do anything.

The best way to determine the statute of limitations is to call an attorney and to tell him or her about your case. The attorney will tell you. Call the attorney’s office today. You can call us here at Hickey Law Firm, P.A. toll free at 1.800.215.7117. We are here to take your call, get your information, and listen. Thanks.

Contact a Maritime Attorney Serving the Miami and Fort Lauderdale Area

Contact John H. (Jack) Hickey today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced maritime attorney. Mr. Hickey proudly serves Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and all of Southern Florida. The staff at Hickey Law Firm, P.A., can protect your legal rights and will work with your best interests in mind.

OUR MISSION is to provide to you, the honest, seriously injured person, the advice you need, the representation you want, and the compensation you deserve. By doing this, we correct unsafe places, procedures, conditions, and products on cruise ships, stores, commercial facilities, at work, and at home.

Representing honest seriously injured people in cases of personal injury, wrongful death, cruise ship accidents, maritime accidents, boating accidents, aviation and airplane crashes, slip and falls, trip and falls, car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, medical malpractice, professional negligence, wrongful prescriptions, sexual assault, assault and battery, and negligent security. We represent these people in cases where they have suffered wrongful death or injuries with permanent impairments or disabilities such as orthopedic injuries which include broken bones or torn ligaments or tendons, injuries to the organs, neurological injuries, head and brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological injuries from trauma, or scarring and disfigurement.

To schedule a free consultation with a maritime attorney serving Greater Miami, including Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach County, contact John H. (Jack) Hickey today.

1401 Brickell Ave. Suite 510 Miami, Florida 33131 Click HERE to view location and directions

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