Every year seamen are injured or killed as a result of negligence while working on vessels at sea.  Under the Jones Act a seaman can recover money if injured by reason of his employer's failing to provide a safe place to work. As well, there are specific rules and maritime laws that protect passengers on commercial cruise ships who are victims of negligence. Generally, Admiralty and Maritime law deals with accidents that occur on navigable waters. That includes the oceans of the world as well as large lakes or rivers. There are different definitions regarding whether the waters are close to land or are considered “high seas” further away from land. There is no hard and fast rule and these determinations can be made state by state. Because of the very unique nature of this area of practice our attorneys have been involved in litigation in a variety of the different major ports in the United States.