Maritime Law

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Update 2/14/2012: The law firm of Proner & Proner is highly experienced in filing both class-action and individual claims, having recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients in both types of litigation. After evaluating the legal issues surrounding a class action in this particular case, we feel that filing a class-action on behalf of victims of the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident is not in their best interests at this point. Instead, we have filed individual actions collectively out of the belief that approaching this case as a mass tort rather than a class action will result in the greatest likelihood of our clients receiving the most significant economic recovery possible.

Moment by moment, we are analyzing all of the variables that impact on this case, and as of now, we remain unconvinced that bringing a class action is the proper strategy to take on behalf of the Costa Concordia victims we are representing from all over the world. Our primary goal is to see that those passengers who have suffered so greatly as a result of this needless tragedy are able to obtain the full measure of damages to which they are entitled.

If you or someone you love was on board the Costa Concordia when the shipwreck occurred, it is imperative that you contact Proner & Proner immediately to ensure that your rights are protected.

About Maritime Law

Tragically, the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident forced the issue of maritime law into the worldwide spotlight in early 2012. When the cruise ship ran aground off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio, killing at least 16 of the more than 4,200 passengers aboard and injuring hundreds more, people were confronted with horrifying images and news stories regarding the rights of passengers and the responsibilities of cruise ship companies. In the chaos surrounding the shipwreck, more questions seem to have been raised about maritime law than answers provided.

Fortunately, personal injury attorney Mitchell Proner has the expertise, experience, and legal skill to guide victims of cruise ship accidents through the often confusing legal system in their time of greatest need. In the aftermath of the Costa Concordia tragedy, he joined forces with the Italian consumer association Codacons and another US law firm to file a class-action lawsuit against Costa Cruise Lines, the operator of the Costa Concordia. His level-headed legal counsel and undying commitment to protecting the rights of injury victims and their families have shone brightly during this dark period in nautical history.

If you have been injured, or suffered the wrongful death of a member of your family, in the Costa Concordia or any other cruise ship accident, the law firm of Proner & Proner can help. Please contact our personal injury attorneys for an evaluation of your potential claim, or for further information about the class-action lawsuit against the owners and operators of the Costa Concordia, today.

What Is Maritime Law?

Maritime, or admiralty, law refers to the set of laws governing ships and other sea vessels, workers or passengers who occupy these vessels, commerce that occurs on or through these vessels, and accidents and other incidents that occur on the sea. From private yachts to offshore oil rigs, any seafaring vehicle or off-land piece of property is subject to the codes and regulations of maritime law. In general, maritime laws were established to protect the rights of those who might otherwise not have been afforded legal protection when the open seas fell outside the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Maritime law extends the right to file personal injury claims to cruise ship passengers in cases in which the captain, crew, or owners of the cruise line can be shown to have acted negligently. As with all personal injury claims, those involving maritime law must be filed within a given period of time, known as the statute of limitations. In most instances, the statute of limitations is determined by the cruise line, as laid forth in a contract signed by the passenger when he or she purchases a cruise ticket. This is why it is essential for victims of cruise ship accidents to seek legal advice as soon as possible after sustaining an injury, as their right to file a claim will be forfeited once the statute of limitations expires.

As with any personal injury or wrongful death case, multiple parties - including the ship's owner, captain, crew, medical staff, and other employees - may be held liable for injuries depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.

The Costa Concordia Disaster

As a passenger on a commercial cruise ship, you naturally expect that your safety will be guarded by the latest technology and the most highly trained and prepared captain and crew possible. The Costa Concordia shipwreck is a tragic example of an accident that should have been easily avoided in 2012. Despite the claims of Costa Cruise Lines that the accident was solely the fault of a negligent captain, Francesco Schettino, complex questions have been raised as to how a ship could possibly run aground in the age of radar technology, electronic course setting, and other advanced measures to ensure the safety of a ship's occupants.

Attorney Mitchell Proner is at the heart of the investigations into the horrific incident, leading the charge against any and all parties who share blame for the injuries and deaths that occurred. These parties may include not only the ship's captain and crew, but also the ship's operator, Costa Cruise Lines, and its parent company, Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines.

Please check this website often for important updates regarding the Costa Concordia class-action lawsuit being filed by Proner & Proner, in conjunction with Codacons and another American law firm. If you were involved in the accident, whether personally or through the loss of a member of your family, it is very important that you protect your legal rights by contacting Proner & Proner immediately.

Jones Act

Perhaps the best known and most important of all maritime laws is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act. This act extended the right to all United States seamen to seek compensation for injuries that occurred at sea due to the negligent actions of the owner of a vessel, the captain, the crew, or any other party whose behavior contributed to the injuries. These seamen could also seek damages if they were injured due to a boat, ship, or other seafaring vessel being unseaworthy. Prior to 1920, American seamen had no legal recourse to compensation for personal injuries that occurred in international waters.

Employees on commercial ships and other seafaring vessels are protected under the Jones Act, which states that they are eligible to the same legal protections as workers on land, even if they are injured in international waters. United States sea workers are, under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, eligible for workers' compensation benefits. If they are injured due to the negligence of their employers or co-workers, inadequate safety precautions, or the unseaworthiness of a vessel, they can pursue compensation in a court of law.

Learn More about Maritime Law

If your life has been devastated by the Costa Concordia disaster or any other maritime accident, please contact Proner & Proner today. Our personal injury attorneys can provide you with the compassionate, skilled counsel you need and will fight for the full measure of compensation you deserve.