Drowning

Handling Drowning Cases on the Eastern Seaboard and Beyond

Even though sailors have been drowning at sea for thousands of years, that does not make it any easier to take. At Latti & Anderson, our lawyers fight for compensation for the families of drowning accident victims. We get them the resources they need to move forward after their terrible loss. If your loved one drowned while on the job, contact us. Find out how we can help. Call 1-800-392-6072 for a free initial consultation.

Helping drowning victims’ families obtain the compensation they need and deserve

Our lawyers build strong cases for drowning victims’ families and loved ones. We have secured some of the largest verdicts and settlements in area drowning cases. We work with experts who explain to a jury the agony suffered by a drowning person.

Survival actions possible in drowning cases

Our lawyers have successfully argued that the conscious pain and suffering the victim experienced before succumbing to hypothermia or drowning requires that his or her estate be awarded damages. Such payment may be in addition to the wrongful death claim brought by the survivors of the victim.

Obtaining payment for seamen suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder

We have also secured compensation for sinking survivors who tried to save their fellow seamen. They often suffer survivor guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When one crew member lives while another is lost at sea because his immersion suit failed, the survivor carries that knowledge forever. It often requires many months and years of therapy to get a PTSD sufferer back on track after a drowning accident.

Drowning often the result of unseaworthiness

The failure of a survival suit, life raft, or other survival craft is frequent and is a form of unseaworthiness in the vessel to which the victim was attached. Unseaworthiness is actionable under the Jones Act; our lawyers have successfully filed claims against ship owners and operators charging that failure to operate a seaworthy vessel caused the drowning death of our client’s loved one.

Drowning Due to Failure to Provide Safe Access to Vessel

Under the maritime law, a vessel operator and owner are required to provide the Captain and crew members with a safe access to and from the vessel. Many deaths and injuries to Captains and crew members result from the captain and crew members going from the vessel to dock or crossing over vessel to vessel. We have successfully obtained compensation for seaman injured or killed trying to get on or off their vessel.

Contact our maritime lawyers at Latti & Anderson after a drowning death. Speak with us about a wrongful death claim or a negligence claim under the Jones Act.

Free initial consultation - Most cases handled on a contingency basis