Auckland Maritime Lawyers – What Do They Do?

Maritime lawyers are experts who have specific knowledge of admiralty or maritime law. It is the section of law governing offenses or activities that will take place in navigable waters such as lakes, streams, rivers, or oceans. It also governs activities that take place on land but actually qualify as maritime such as loading or offloading ships. This type of law is quite complex so be sure to contact an experienced Auckland Maritime Lawyer.

That means some cases such as personal injury claims, maritime products liability, cargo damage or boating accidents might be tried in state or federal courts. You can file a maritime case depending on the nature of the case or whether there’s negligence on the owner of the ship or any other party. There are some statutes of limitations that govern maritime law but a qualified Auckland Maritime Lawyer can help you.

Whenever you’re involved in a maritime law case, hiring an experienced maritime lawyer is the best idea. Most of these cases involved the wrongful death or personal injury of a seaman, passenger or longshoremen. There are some cases where there’s negligence on the owner of the ship, unseaworthiness of the vessel or an employee on the vessel. The injured party in any of these cases is most likely going to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost earning capacity, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement and mental anguish.

Any maritime injury claim can be handled by negotiating with the employer or insurance adjuster directly, filing a lawsuit with a federal or state court or holding legal administrative proceedings before a federal or state agency. The nature of the claim will determine the specific procedures to be involved in the case as well as the length of the claim. For instance, if the insurer or ship owner has completely ignored the claim or simply is trying to prolong the entire process, it’s prudent to initiate a lawsuit or administrative proceeding to allow faster resolution of the case.

Note that, choosing a maritime lawyer is a process that should be done with a lot of research. For instance, do you know people who have recently been involved in a maritime case? Well, you can ask for a referral or recommendation to the lawyer they used for their case. Also, if you know any other legal expert, you can ask for a referral since the legal community is tightly knit. Of course, you need to know whether their cases were successful and the experience of working with the lawyer. If everything is positive, then you’re in the best hands.

Also, choose an Auckland maritime lawyer who is experienced and reputable. Find someone who has been in the business for a long time and actually has won most of the cases handled along the way. On the other hand, make sure that he/she is reputable by checking their website and talking to the previous clients to find out if they had a good experience working with the lawyer.

Auckland Maritime Lawyer