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Coral Springs, FL Maritime Accident Attorney
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Injured while working on or near the water in South Florida?
Maritime accident attorneys who navigate the Jones Act and federal law for injured workers.
Workers hurt on the water are covered by a specialized body of federal law that most people, and many lawyers, rarely handle. A Coral Springs maritime accident attorney at Jacobson Injury Firm determines which law applies, whether the Jones Act, the Longshore Act, or general maritime law, and pursues the full compensation an injured maritime worker is owed. Reach out today for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
- Maritime Accident Attorney Coral Springs, FL
- The Jones Act and Who Qualifies as a Seaman
- LHWCA and General Maritime Law
- What Sets Jacobson Injury Firm Apart
- Injuries and Compensation
- What to Do After a Maritime Injury
- Coral Springs Maritime Accident Attorney FAQs
- Related Coral Springs Practice Areas
- Local Resources
- What Clients Say
- Contact Jacobson Injury Firm
Maritime Accident Attorney Coral Springs, FL
South Florida’s ports, marinas, and busy waterways employ thousands of people, from deckhands and boat crews to dockworkers and ship repairers, and many Coral Springs residents earn a living on or near the water. Maritime work is dangerous, and a serious injury can send a worker to Broward Health Coral Springs while raising legal questions that ordinary injury law never touches.
Maritime injury claims are governed largely by federal law rather than Florida’s ordinary negligence rules, and the applicable law depends on the worker’s job and where the injury happened. A maritime accident attorney in Coral Springs, FL sorts out that classification first, because it determines who can be sued, what can be recovered, and whether the case is heard by a jury.
The Jones Act and Who Qualifies as a Seaman
The Jones Act is a federal law that lets a “seaman” sue their employer for injuries caused by negligence. To qualify as a seaman, a worker generally must spend a significant portion of their time, often around 30 percent, aboard a vessel or fleet in navigation, contributing to its work. Deckhands, mates, engineers, and similar crew usually qualify.
The Jones Act is powerful because its burden of proof is low: a seaman need only show the employer’s negligence played any part, however slight, in causing the injury. Injured seamen can typically pursue three remedies together: Jones Act negligence against the employer, an unseaworthiness claim against the vessel owner for unsafe equipment or crew, and “maintenance and cure,” a near-automatic benefit covering medical care and basic living expenses until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement. Unlike land-based workers’ comp, the Jones Act also allows recovery for pain and suffering.
LHWCA and General Maritime Law
Not every maritime worker is a seaman. Land-based maritime workers, such as longshoremen, dockworkers, and ship repairers, are generally covered instead by the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). The LHWCA is a no-fault system that pays medical care, wage replacement, and disability benefits without requiring proof of negligence, though it does not provide pain-and-suffering damages from the employer. In some cases, an injured longshore worker can also bring a separate negligence claim against a vessel owner.
Passengers and others who are not maritime workers may have claims under general maritime law or Florida law, depending on the facts. Because these categories carry very different rights and deadlines, and because employers sometimes push an injured worker toward the label that pays less, getting an independent legal read early is important. Identifying every liable party and the correct legal framework is the heart of a maritime case.
What Sets Jacobson Injury Firm Apart
Prepared to Try the Case
Adam Jacobson prepares each claim as though a jury will decide it, which is often what moves an insurer off a low offer. He earned his law degree from Florida International University College of Law and is licensed in Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois.
Results and Direct Attention
Mr. Jacobson has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and handles each case personally, so the attorney who evaluates the claim is the one who negotiates and, if needed, tries it in court.
Injuries and Compensation
Maritime accidents cause severe harm: traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, crush injuries, amputations, drownings, and burns. Depending on the applicable law, a claim can recover damages for medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, maintenance and cure, and, in fatal cases, wrongful death losses.
Because maritime cases hinge on vessel records, crew statements, and equipment evidence, and because the deadlines can differ from ordinary Florida claims, moving quickly to preserve proof and classify the claim correctly is critical.
What to Do After a Maritime Injury
The right early steps protect a maritime claim.
- Report the injury to your employer or captain and make sure it is documented.
- Get medical care and keep all records.
- Do not sign statements or accept a classification (such as “not a seaman”) without advice.
- Photograph the vessel, equipment, and conditions if possible, and gather witness names.
- Consult an attorney early, since maritime deadlines and rights differ from state law.
Coral Springs Maritime Accident Attorney FAQs
What is the difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore Act?
The Jones Act covers seamen, crew who work aboard a vessel in navigation, and requires proving employer negligence but allows broad damages including pain and suffering. The LHWCA covers land-based maritime workers on a no-fault basis, with more limited damages.
How do I know if I am a “seaman”?
Generally, if you spend a significant part of your work time, often around 30 percent, aboard a vessel or fleet in navigation and contribute to its mission. This classification is frequently contested and worth reviewing with an attorney.
What is “maintenance and cure”?
It is a near-automatic maritime benefit that covers a seaman’s medical care and basic living expenses until maximum medical improvement, regardless of fault.
How long do I have to file?
Maritime deadlines can differ from Florida’s ordinary limits, and some claims run under federal law. Because the timelines vary, it is important to consult an attorney quickly.
What does a maritime accident attorney cost?
Nothing upfront. The firm works on contingency, so the fee comes only from a recovery, and the first consultation is free.
Related Coral Springs Practice Areas
If your situation involves more than one area of injury law, these related pages may help:
- Coral Springs Personal Injury
- Coral Springs Boat Accidents
- Coral Springs Scuba Diving Accidents
- Coral Springs Catastrophic Injuries
- Coral Springs Wrongful Death
- Coral Springs Premises Liability
Local Resources
- Broward Health Coral Springs runs the city’s hospital and 24-hour emergency room at 3000 Coral Hills Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065. (954) 344-3000.
- The U.S. Department of Labor administers the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
For any emergency, call 911.
Please note: These organizations have no connection to Jacobson Injury Firm, and the firm does not endorse them. They appear here only as a convenience for readers.
What Clients Say
“Communication was top-notch. I never had to chase anyone down for updates. Adam was always one step ahead and kept me informed throughout the entire process.”
Fabiola Kongela
More reviews are available on the firm’s Google Business Profile.
Contact Jacobson Injury Firm
A maritime injury involves federal laws and deadlines that ordinary injury cases never touch, and the wrong classification can cost you dearly. Jacobson Injury Firm represents injured maritime workers across Coral Springs and Broward County, works on contingency, and charges no fee unless it wins a recovery. The first consultation is free. Contact us today to speak with a Coral Springs maritime accident attorney.
