Bellevue maritime accidents can be devastating, career ending and/or fatal. The underwriter of any vessel will be immediately able to obtain statements of witnesses who are critical to your case. It is important to hire an attorney immediately to investigate your accident and to obtain corroborating statements from witnesses on the vessel. Often crew members will disappear. Either they will move on to other vessels or simply return to their land of origin. Therefore, the taking of statements when your vessel is in port is critical. You should notify your maritime attorney of all possible eye witnesses who observed the condition which caused your accident so an investigator may obtain statements from all possible witnesses while they are in port. Even though the burden of proof in a maritime claim is feather weight, it is important to start out with a strong case by having proof of liability through witness statements. Once liability is sewed up, then it is important to proceed in order to prove your damages. This typically involves the loss of past or future earnings that a seamen otherwise would have earned “but for” the accident. This could include future anticipated contracts of employment with this or other vessels, or other work in the private sector. In the meantime, regardless of liability, the injured seaman is entitled to recover maintenance and cure regardless of fault. This shall continue until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement according to his or her treating physician.
If you think you may have a Maritime claim on you hands, you are welcome to contact our Bellevue Maritime Accident Attorneys for a free consultation at a time and place of your convenience.
