Admiralty Law

2007-05-02 10:04:19

( Legal )



The admiralty law is a specific kind of law that governs private institutions deploying vessels in various bodies of water. Vessels under this law range from huge ships to small jet skis.

Also known as the maritime law, the admiralty law encompasses a number of important principles.

One of the principles in admiralty law is the limitation of owner’s liability, in case an accident occurs involving the vessel. If you are the owner of a vessel that sank, you must prove that you have adequately equipped the vessel, and are thus not responsible for the accident. If you are able to prove this, your liability will only be limited to whatever remains of your ship after sinking.

Another important principle deals with claims made by passengers for any damage to their cargo. You will only be required to pay a pre-set amount for every package that is damaged, even if the value of the item is more than the pre-set amount. An exception to this would be if the cost of the item is displayed on the container itself.

Another principle deals with compensation for injuries to seamen. If a seaman working on your ship is injured, you have to pay for his medical and basic living expenses until he is fully healed. If a seaman is injured because your ship or your equipment is defective, the seaman can also sue you.

Also, if a lost property gets salvaged by another vessel, the rescuing vessel can ask for a salvage award from the original owners.

A special kind of court, known as the admiralty court, tries maritime cases.

If you find yourself getting tried for an admiralty case, it is essential that you hire a good admiralty lawyer. You can find these lawyers at various law firms nationwide and even online.


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