Maritime Lawyer Boca Raton, FL

Crew members, dock workers, and cruise passengers who are hurt at sea or on the waterfront often fall outside ordinary Florida injury law. Their rights may come from federal statutes such as the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, from centuries-old maritime rules, or from the fine print on a cruise ticket. A maritime lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can identify which rules apply and act before short deadlines expire. Jacobson Injury Firm represents injured workers, passengers, and their families, never vessel owners, employers, or cruise lines. Contact the firm for a free consultation.

How Maritime Injury Claims Work

Maritime injury law depends on who the injured person is. A crew member, a harbor worker, and a passenger each have different rights.

The Jones Act (seamen). Under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, a seaman injured on the job can sue their employer for negligence and ask for a jury trial. The law borrows from the federal statute that protects railroad workers. Under that framework, a worker’s own carelessness does not bar recovery but reduces damages in proportion to their share of fault.

Unseaworthiness. A vessel owner has a duty to provide a ship and equipment that are reasonably fit for their intended use. If a broken ladder, slippery deck, faulty winch, or untrained crew makes the vessel unseaworthy and a seaman is hurt, the owner can be liable even without proof of negligence.

Maintenance and cure. An employer generally must pay an injured seaman “maintenance,” a daily living allowance, and “cure,” the cost of medical care, until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement. This duty applies regardless of who was at fault.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). Dock workers, longshore workers, ship repairers, and shipbuilders are usually not seamen. Instead, the LHWCA, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides medical care and disability compensation for injuries on navigable waters or nearby areas used to load, unload, repair, or build vessels. Total disability benefits are generally two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, subject to a maximum.

Where Maritime Injuries Happen Near Boca Raton

Boca Raton sits between two of Florida’s working ports. To the south, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale counted a record 4,773,873 cruise guests in fiscal year 2025 and describes itself as the third-busiest cruise homeport in the world. To the north, the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach handles cargo and cruise traffic.

Between those ports, crews work aboard yachts, charter fishing boats, dive boats, and dredges along the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic coast. Many South Florida residents also take cruises from Port Everglades and Miami, and injuries on those trips are governed largely by federal maritime law.

Common Types of Maritime Injury Cases

Jacobson Injury Firm represents injured people in cases involving:

• Deckhands and crew members hurt by unsafe equipment, lines, or winches
• Yacht and charter boat crew injured during long shifts or rough-weather operations
• Slip-and-fall injuries on wet, oily, or poorly lit decks
• Dock and harbor workers hurt during loading, unloading, or ship repair
• Cruise ship passengers injured in falls, on tenders, or during shore excursions
• Assaults on cruise ships caused by inadequate security
• Medical care failures aboard a vessel after an injury or illness

Common injuries include back injuries, crush injuries, and broken bones and fractures.

What Compensation Is Available in a Maritime Case?

The recovery depends on the type of claim:

• Seamen may recover maintenance and cure, plus damages under the Jones Act or for unseaworthiness, including lost wages, future earning capacity, medical costs, and pain and suffering.
• Harbor workers may receive LHWCA medical and disability benefits. If a vessel’s negligence caused the injury, the worker may also be able to sue the vessel as a third party, although LHWCA claims against a vessel cannot be based on unseaworthiness.
• Passengers may seek damages for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and related losses from a cruise line or vessel operator whose negligence caused the injury.

Seaman or Harbor Worker? Why Status Matters

The most important early question in many maritime cases is whether the injured worker counts as a “seaman.” In Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis (1995), the U.S. Supreme Court held that seaman status depends on two things: the worker’s duties must contribute to the function or mission of a vessel, and the worker must have a connection to a vessel in navigation that is substantial in both duration and nature.

A worker who qualifies as a seaman may bring Jones Act and unseaworthiness claims and receive maintenance and cure. A worker who does not may instead be covered by the LHWCA or by Florida workers’ compensation. Employers and insurers sometimes dispute status to limit what they pay. A maritime lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can review the job duties, time aboard, and vessel to determine which system applies.

What Should You Do After a Maritime Injury?

An injured worker or passenger should:

• Report the injury right away. Workers should report to a supervisor or captain. LHWCA workers should give written notice to the employer within 30 days, generally on Form LS-201.
• Get medical care and keep records. Note every provider, prescription, and expense, which matters for maintenance and cure and for damages.
• Document the scene. Photograph equipment, deck conditions, and injuries, and collect names of witnesses and crew.
• Keep the ticket. Cruise passengers should save their ticket contract, since it may contain notice deadlines and a forum-selection clause.
• Be careful with statements. Employers and cruise lines may ask injured people to sign statements or releases. Speaking with a lawyer first can protect the claim.

The firm’s guide to preserving evidence explains why early action matters.

How Long Do You Have to File a Maritime Claim?

Maritime deadlines vary and some are short:

• General maritime and Jones Act claims. Under 46 U.S.C. § 30106, a lawsuit for personal injury or death from a maritime tort generally must be filed within three years.
• LHWCA claims. The Department of Labor says a written claim for compensation should be filed on Form LS-203 within one year after the injury, in addition to the 30-day notice to the employer.
• Cruise ship passenger claims. Cruise tickets commonly require written notice of an injury claim within six months and a lawsuit within one year. Federal law, 46 U.S.C. § 30526, sets these as the shortest periods a covered seagoing passenger vessel may impose, but the exact terms vary by ticket.

Many cruise tickets also contain a forum-selection clause that requires any lawsuit to be filed in a specific court. In Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute (1991), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld such a clause, so filing in the wrong court can put a claim at risk. The firm’s page on when to hire an attorney explains why early help matters.

No Fee Unless We Win

Jacobson Injury Firm handles maritime injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and no attorney fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

Clients work directly with attorney Adam Jacobson, who is licensed in Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois. He prepares each case as if it may go to trial. The firm represents injured people only, never shipowners, employers, or cruise lines. Its full list of practice areas covers other injury claims as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act?

Generally, a worker whose duties contribute to a vessel’s function or mission and who has a substantial connection to a vessel in navigation. Captains, deckhands, engineers, and many yacht crew members may qualify. The answer depends on the specific job.

Can a seaman get paid even if no one was at fault?

Yes. Maintenance and cure is owed regardless of fault, from the time of injury until maximum medical improvement. A separate Jones Act or unseaworthiness claim may provide additional damages.

Does Florida workers’ compensation cover dock workers?

Many dock and harbor workers are covered by the federal LHWCA instead. Some workers, such as certain marina employees, may be excluded from the LHWCA if a state workers’ compensation law covers them.

How long do I have to sue a cruise line?

Many cruise tickets require notice within six months and a lawsuit within one year, and they often require filing in a specific court. Passengers should check their ticket and speak with a lawyer quickly.

How much does a maritime lawyer cost?

Jacobson Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront, and there is no attorney fee unless money is recovered.

Contact a Maritime Lawyer in Boca Raton, FL

An injured seaman, harbor worker, or cruise passenger should not have to face a shipowner’s or cruise line’s legal team alone. A maritime lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can identify the right claim, meet the deadlines, and pursue full compensation. Call (561) 567-7163 or contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.