Maritime Law
2014 Commercial Marine Expo Coming to New Bedford June 11-12
2014 Commercial Marine Expo Coming to New Bedford June 11-12 The Commercial Marine Expo is set to return to the State Pier in New Bedford, Massachusetts June 11-12, 2014. As the Atlantic Seaboard’s largest commercial marine trade show, the Commercial Marine Expo offers those in the maritime industry the opportunity to see hundreds of exhibitors,…
Read MoreDeck Hand Dies After Fall from Ohio River Ferry
A fall overboard claimed the life of an 81-year-old deck hand, who died after falling off the ferry he was working on, according to Professional Mariner. The accident happened on the Ohio River in between Constance, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. The 81 year old was a former ferry captain. He had to retire due to…
Read MoreCaptain Facing Unlicensed Operation Charges After Ship Sinks
Captain Facing Unlicensed Operation Charges After Ship Sinks According to a report in Professional Mariner magazine, the captain of a catamaran that capsized has been charged with operating without a license. There were 30 passengers onboard when the custom-built boat sank near downtown Miami. Prior to sinking, the catamaran began to take on water as…
Read MoreFirm Secures $307,500 Settlement for Boating Accident Victim
Our firm was able to secure a $307,500 settlement for a woman who was injured in a boating accident caused by the driver hitting multiple wakes at full speed. Prior to the incident, the woman, her best friend and several other passengers were riding in a vessel being operated by the defendant. They were returning…
Read MoreIs My Family Safe on a Ferry?
When you take your family on a ferry, you entrust the owners and operators of the vessel with what matters most to you: the lives of your loved ones. This is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, not all ferry owners and operators take the necessary precautions to ensure their vessels are…
Read MoreOur Firm Recovers $1.5 Million for Injured Fisherman
Our maritime trial lawyers were able to recover $1.5 million in a settlement for a crewmember injured in a messenger line accident while working on a fishing boat. The crewman had just placed the messenger line over the starboard spreader bar when the accident happened. After the plaintiff put down the line, it went taut,…
Read MoreNew Apps Help Make Working on the Water Safer
A report in Professional Mariner revealed that new smartphone applications are helping make maritime workers jobs easier and safer. The MarineTraffic app is a smartphone application that allows the user to keep track of the positions of more than 80,000 vessels around the world on an interactive map, including the ability to see arrivals and…
Read MoreOur Firm Secures a $775,000 Settlement for Scallop Boat Crewman
After a crewmember was injured on the F/V NASHIRA, a scallop boat, our nationwide maritime trial lawyers were able to secure a $775,000 settlement for him. The crewman was hurt during the evening while working on the deck of the ship. The incident that caused the man’s injuries began with a pile of scallops being…
Read MoreWater Taxi and Recreational Boat Collide, Leaving Three Hurt
A collision between a water taxi and a pleasure boat in Maine’s Casco Bay left three injured, according to Professional Mariner. The accident happened on September 7 off the southern quarter of the island of Fort Gorges around 10 p.m. The recreational boat was carrying two people and the water taxi was carrying seven, including…
Read MoreAfter Falling From Skiff, Tugboat Crewman Goes Missing
After Falling From Skiff, Tugboat Crewman Goes Missing While being carried to his tugboat on a skiff, a crewmember fell overboard and went missing, according to Professional Mariner. The 28-year-old crewman fell shortly before midnight on October 6 as a skiff was taking him to a small boat launch near Anchorage, Alaska, where his tugboat…
Read MoreTSAC Releases Over 100 Tips for Preventing Falls Overboard
Recently, the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) released a list of over 100 tips for preventing falls overboard from vessels. The list was compiled after the TSAC reviewed US Coast Guard incident reports of 55 fall-overboard fatalities between 2000 and 2010. Through reviewing the reports, the TSAC was able to identify 29 conditions that could…
Read MoreBarge Breaks Free From New York Construction Site
Barge Breaks Free From New York Construction Site According to The Journal News, on March 30, a barge broke free from the Tappan Zee Bridge construction site for the third time since September. A statement released by Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) confirmed that the barge had come loose from its mooring and drifted for about…
Read MoreWho Do I Call If I Was the Victim of a Boating Accident?
If you or a family member have been the victim of a boating accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. After that, your next step should be to talk to a maritime attorney. While you may ultimately choose not to hire a lawyer, speaking with one after an accident should be…
Read MoreHouston Ship Channel Barge Accident Nearly Ends in Disaster
According to the Houston Chronicle, an accident between a barge and container ship narrowly avoided turning into an environmental disaster. The Houston Business Journal reported that the barge-container ship accident happened on March 14 in the Houston Ship Channel. The crash occurred just north of the Texas City Y, which is the nickname of the…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If I Was Hurt in a Tanker Accident?
Under maritime laws such as the Jones Act, if you are hurt in a tanker accident due to negligence or unseaworthiness, you are entitled to compensation for lost wages, hospital bills and more. However, proving your employer’s dangerous operations or mistakes led to your injury can often be difficult without the assistance of a qualified…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If I Am in a Boat Accident?
Due to victims having to deal with the combination of injuries, lost wages and medical bills, the aftermath of a boating accident can be a very chaotic time. That is why, as nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains in the video below, after seeking immediate medical attention, the first thing you should do after…
Read MoreFamily of Man Killed in Boat Wreck Struggling to Survive
According to Oklahoma’s Own News 9, an Oklahoma City family is struggling to get by in the wake of a fatal hit-and-run boating accident. The accident happened last July 4 on Lake Eufaula when a boater reportedly crashed his boat into a vessel carrying members of the family and fled the scene. The accident took…
Read MoreWhat Can I Do if I Suffered Burns in a Boating Accident?
The victims of burn injuries often have a long road to recovery ahead of them. Suffering a serious burn is one of the most devastating injuries a person can endure, because of the traumatic nature of the injury, combined with the lengthy, costly and painful rehabilitation process. As nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson explains…
Read MoreMississippi River Closed After New Orleans Barge Accident
A February 22 barge accident involving two tugboats caused an oil spill that forced authorities to close a 65-mile stretch of the Mississippi River. According to KRIS NBC 6 News, as of February 23, the closure had left 26 vessels waiting to pass through the area. “Authorities involved in the cleanup and investigation planned a…
Read MoreWhat if My Loved One Died in an Onshore Maritime Accident?
In the video below, nationwide maritime trial lawyer David Anderson discusses the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, which is a type of workers’ compensation administered by the U.S. government. Under the Longshore Act, onshore workers are provided with benefits, including replacement income and compensation for medical expenses if they are the victim of a…
Read MoreInvestigation into Florida Barge Accident Still Ongoing
The investigation into a March 20 Fort Walton Beach barge accident is still ongoing, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. The investigation by the Coast Guard will reportedly be concluded within the next few weeks. As a result of the barge accident, which occurred when a tugboat pushed a barge with a crane on…
Read MoreNo Structural Harm to I-24 Bridge in Ohio River Barge Wreck
A February 13 tugboat accident caused no structural damage to the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge hit by the barges being pushed by the tug. WSIL ABC 3 reported that the accident happened around midnight when the tugboat pushed at least two barges into a pier attached to the bridge. According to a spokesperson for…
Read MoreI Was Hurt in a Barge Accident. What Should I Do?
With proper safety training, staffing, maintenance, tools and equipment, many tug and barge accidents are preventable. When injuries and wrongful deaths occur on tugboats and barges, it is often because the owner or employer failed to prevent or correct unsafe shipboard conditions, such as: Improper procedures for setting out and securing lines of tug, barge and…
Read MoreFloating Restaurant Breaks Free and Hits Bridge in Kentucky
According to WCPO 9 in Cincinnati, on February 6, a floating restaurant located on the Ohio River broke free from the shore and hit a bridge. This was not the first time that the Waterfront had broken away and hit the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Back in 2011, it broke loose and crashed into the…
Read MoreMaine Barge Accident Leads to Damariscotta River Oil Spill
On February 7, a barge sunk into the Damariscotta River leading to an oil spill, according to WCSH NBC 6 in Portland, Maine. The accident happened near an aquaculture farm in the village of Walpole, Maine around 8 a.m. No one was reported to have been injured in the accident. After the accident, the barge…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If I Am the Victim of a Drunk Boating Accident?
The dangers of drunk boating cannot be overstated. According to an American Boating Association (ABA) article, a Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above 10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident as boat operators with zero blood…
Read MoreWesthampton Beach Boy Scout Protecting Boaters with Eagle Project
A 14-year-old Boy Scout in Westhampton Beach, New York is working to bring a life jacket loaner station to the Westhampton Beach Village Marina. According to the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch, the life jacket stand is a part of the young man’s quest to earn his Eagle Scout award, which is the highest rank in Boy…
Read MoreNew Jersey Passing Law Increasing Boating Accident Penalties?
On January 14, a bill cleared the New Jersey state Senate that would toughen the punishment for leaving the scene of a boating accident that results in a serious or fatal injury. According to the Brick Patch, under the current law, aside from being illegal, there is no set penalty for leaving the scene of…
Read MoreBarge Washes Up on New York Beach After Detaching From Tugboat
Barge Washes Up on New York Beach After Detaching From Tugboat A 125-foot deck barge washed up on Atlantic Beach in New York on January 14 after detaching from a tugboat that sank into the Atlantic Ocean. The tug and barge were separated after a “large swell” around 7:30 p.m. on January 13, according to…
Read MoreDo I Need A Lawyer After a Maritime Accident?
After a maritime accident, victims are often told by vessel owners that they will “take care of them,” in order to prevent getting an attorney involved. However, it is important that you contact an attorney immediately after your maritime accident to ensure that you will get the compensation you deserve. Oftentimes, if someone is injured…
Read MoreLack of Health Insurance for Commercial Fisherman Prevents Industry Growth
An article in Alaska Public Media recently discussed the growing issue of the lack of affordable health insurance for commercial fishermen and the impact it has on the industry as a whole. According to the article, a sizeable portion of Alaskan fishermen choose to forgo insurance altogether, since affordable healthcare is not provided for them.…
Read MoreOur Maritime Attorneys Represent Injured Victims Nationwide
The maritime attorneys at Latti & Anderson LLP represent injured clients throughout the country for injuries sustained all over the world. When you are injured in a maritime accident, you do not have to seek help from an attorney in your home state, or from the state you are injured in. Maritime law is federal…
Read MoreOur Female Maritime Attorney Carolyn Latti Represents Those Injured at Sea
Attorney and firm partner Carolyn Latti is one of the few female maritime attorneys on the East Coast and specializes in representing fishermen, lobstermen, merchant seamen, longshore and harbor workers. Carolyn also provides representation for those injured in cruise ship accidents, ferry accidents and recreational boating collisions. She focuses on admiralty law and has twice…
Read MoreNew Jersey Snow Storm Sets Hudson River Barges Adrift
Two large construction barges were set loose from the Tappan Zee Bridge on January 3 during a recent snowstorm, causing more scrutiny over the area that has been criticized for safety concerns since a fatal accident last summer. One of the barges made it 15 miles before officials recovered it; the other traveled a shorter…
Read MoreWorker Injured in Dredging Accident at Washington State Port
A man was injured while working on a barge at the Port of Olympia in Washington State on January 8. According to the Olympia Fire Department, the man was injured when a “bucket used in the dredging process shifted and/or impacted the worker.” The man was working for Orion Marine Contractors of Tacoma on the…
Read MorePassenger Fell From Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, Police Say
Police released on January 1 that they believe a passenger that was reported as missing from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship may have fallen overboard around dawn on December 31. According to officials, the passenger was a 65-year-old man that may have fallen off the cruise ship in British Caribbean territory, 13 miles northwest of…
Read MoreContainership Pilot Loses License After Striking Philadelphia Pier
Containership Pilot Loses License After Striking Philadelphia Pier A containership pilot has lost his license after investigators say he caused a collision into an abandoned pier by downtown Philadelphia in December 2011. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot became disoriented on the Delaware River and missed a turn, causing the collision.…
Read MoreVirginia Captain Loses Job After Ferry Accident
The captain of a Jamestown ferry lost his job after an August accident that occurred when he departed from the dock while cars were still loading onto the boat, sending a woman in her Toyota into the James River. The accident occurred on August 7 when the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (JSF) left the berth while vehicles…
Read MoreTulsa Man Charged in Fatal Boating Accident Pleads Not Guilty
The man charged with two counts of first degree manslaughter in a Grand Lake boating accident that killed two people in May pleaded not guilty on December 13. The accused man was allegedly the operator of the boat that collided into an empty 96-foot houseboat on Grand Lake near Arrowhead Yacht Club. The accident killed…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Ferry Accident Injures Passengers, Crew
A ferry ran aground on Battery Island, North Carolina on December 17, injuring more than 12 people, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The passenger ferry was carrying 53 passengers at the time of the accident. One passenger was flown to a local hospital, while 12 others were taken to regional hospitals. Seven other passengers…
Read MoreThree Killed in Destin Boating Accident, Cause of Accident Under Investigation
Investigators are inspecting the wreckage and motor of a boat that was involved in an accident under the Mid-Bay Bridge that killed three people on December 5, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Three people were on board a recreational boat when the operator hit a piling under the Mid-Bay Bridge, and…
Read MoreWales Ferry Accident Caused by Crew Fatigue, Officials Say
A ferry accident in Holyhead, Wales may have been caused by crew exhaustion and unfamiliarity with the vessel’s equipment and safety procedures, according to an official report. The ferry accident occurred in February when the vessel collided into a port in Anglesey and punctured a hole in the hull, flooding the pump room. All 77…
Read MoreCrews Resume Search for Victim of Ohio River Barge Accident
Search and rescue crews resumed their search on December 11 for a missing worker that was involved in a barge accident on the Ohio River the day before. On December 10 around 4 a.m., the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call that a worker on a barge owned by Hunter Sun and Gravel…
Read MoreFiancé of Woman Killed in Hudson River Boating Accident Sues Operator, Barge Owners
The fiancé of a woman killed in an August boating accident on the Hudson River has sued the operator of the boat at the time of the accident and the owners of the construction barge that the boat collided with. Brian Bond was on the boat at the time of the accident that killed his…
Read MoreNew Jersey Ferry Accident Injures Several On Board, Including Captain
A New Jersey ferry accident on November 30 injured several people on board, including the vessel’s captain. The ferry hit a Jersey City pier 300 yards north of the dock it was traveling to, causing many passengers and crewmembers to fall. Five passengers and two crewmembers, one being the ship’s captain, reported injuries. Three were…
Read MoreTowboat Hits Submerged Object, Sinks in Mississippi River
A towboat sunk in the Mississippi River in Iowa on November 25 after hitting an unknown submerged object. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, no serious injuries were reported from the incident, but the boat was carrying 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel and oil that is now leaking into the river. Nine crewmembers escaped from…
Read MoreNationwide Maritime Trial Lawyer: Barge Accident Kills One on Sacramento River
A worker was killed when a tractor he was operating on fell off a barge and into the Sacramento River on November 25. The man was operating an excavator when the tractor he was riding on slipped into the water and drowned the worker. According to the Solano County Sheriff’s office, it was initially reported…
Read MorePassengers Told to “Brace for Impact” in Staten Island Ferry Accident
Ferry operators told passengers to “brace for impact” when a Staten Island ferry collided into a Whitehall terminal dock in lower Manhattan on November 14. According to transportation department authorities, a “power disruption” may have caused the crash. Passengers on board said that the ferry collided with the dock hard and that operators “told everybody…
Read MoreOne Dead After Boat Capsizes off Alki Point in Washington
A man was killed when the wheelhouse of a boat he was working on capsized on November 15 off Alki Point in Washington State. Three crewmates of the man suffered hypothermia in the accident but survived the capsizing. According to the Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department, the men were working for Ballard Marine Construction…
Read MoreCruise Ship Injury? Our Nationwide Maritime Attorneys Can Help
Our nationwide maritime attorneys can help victims of cruise ship accidents, injuries and assault. A recent string of cruise ship accidents have shown that passengers and crew on board these large vessels are at risk for serious injuries and death when there is negligence or recklessness. Most recently, a woman leaped overboard a cruise ship…
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