Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer - Maritime Accidents

Boating Accident Causes Wrongful Death

Mark McLean — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:33:34 GMT

A boating accident in Puget Sound north of Bremerton killed a woman and seriously injured her husband last weekend. The man was flown to Harborview Medical Center.

Accidents which occur on "navigable waters" are subject to a somewhat unique set of laws called "admiralty and maritime" law. These cases apply federal law and often are brought in federal courts. An experienced attorney can guide your family through this diffuclt and often confusing process.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to our section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mark McLean

$1 Million Settlement in Cruise Ship Case

Ryan Nute — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:23:45 GMT

You may have read about the man who disappeared from a Royal Caribbean cruise on his honeymoon. The cruise line recently agreed to pay more than $1 million to settle the claims of his estate.

The accident called into question cruise ships' ability to keep track of their passengers and when they are required to report disappearances. Another lawsuit by other family members calls the incident a "cover-up" by the cruise line.

Our firm handles many personal injury claims against Holland America, a cruise line based in Seattle, Washington. Holland America requires its passengers to litigate their claims in Seattle. Please feel free to contact us if you have a cruise ship injury claim--if we cannot handle it, the odds are we will know someone who can.

Cruise Ship Injuries

Michael Myers — Mon, 22 May 2006 15:19:40 GMT

Cruise ships have been under fire lately. It seems that everyone is getting sick, getting injured, or even getting killed on cruise ships. What happens when you cram thousands of people on a big boat and send them out to sea with a lot of alcohol?

The answer is - a lot of different things happen. Most people have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, for some, they are suddenly trapped in a hellish nightmare that they have paid thousands of dollars for. If you have been injured or become ill on a cruise ship, you may have claims against the operator of that ship.

The cruise ship is responsible for proper sanitation and safety measures throughout the cruise. You are spending a lot of money for this vacation, and it should be safe and comfortable.

The U.S. Coast Guard has published a consumer fact sheet regarding cruises. This fact sheet provides an overview of the cruise line's duties and obligations, as well as what they are not responsible for. Additionally, if you would like to make a complaint against a cruise line, you will find out how to do so.

Remember, if you have been injured or sickened because of the negligence of a cruise line, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. The statute of limitations begins to run as soon as you are injured. Don't delay in finding out what your rights are.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Michael Myers

Seeing is Believing - Medical Photography

Michael Myers — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:48:07 GMT

If you have been injured, don't underestimate the power of a good photograph. I recently spoke with Swedish Medical Center about their Medical Photography center.

Swedish Hospital employs a photographer trained in clinical photography. They also have a studio with professional lighting. The photography is done with a digital camera, and the photographs produced are high resolution images. However, not everyone has access to high end equipment or can afford to have their injuries documented by a professional photographer.

If you are injured by the negligence of another, you should document your injuries immediately. This means taking quality photographs.

You should:
1) make sure there is sufficient lighting
2) make sure to include overall shots so that scale can be observed
3) include rulers in your shots to show the size of an injury
4) include the uninjured appendage (show both hands, feet, legs, arms, etc.) so a comparison can be made
5) make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing (no distracting outfits, piercings, etc.)

You should not:
1) be embarrassed (it's just like seeing a doctor, you are going to have to show people where the injury is)
2) try to enhance the injury - honesty is the best policy
3) look excessively happy or sad - just be yourself

Taking quality photographs of your injuries is a way to ensure that you will have proof of the extent of your injuries. Once you hire a personal injury attorney, they should be provided to your attorney immediately. These photographs can help your attorney negotiate your claim with the insurance company.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Michael Myers

Ports Really More At Risk In Dubai Hands?

Michael Myers — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:47:05 GMT

Long-time maritime law blogger Marc Marling weighs in on the Dubai Ports world controversy. I agree with Marc in his assessment that this whole thing has gotten out of control. As he states:

Instead of spending significant airtime on this political debate which has resulted in the odd pairings of George Bush and Jimmy Carter on the same side with Barbara Boxer and Bill Frist on the other, it would be more fruitful to spend time raising consciousness about the venerability of our nation's ports - regardless of the operator in place there.

Marc promises to follow up with more posts about port security, so I suggest keeping up with things over at Proctor in Admiralty.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Michael Myers