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California Maritime Accident Lawyer

Maritime Injury Attorney Preston Easley Represents Seamen and Longshoremen in Maritime Accident Claims and Wrongful Death Cases Involving Workers and Employees in San Pedro, San Diego, and Throughout CA

When maritime workers are injured on the job, they can’t file a workers’ compensation claim like other workers. Injuries that these workers experience are governed by specific federal laws. Depending on the type of maritime worker you are, you are entitled to compensation under either the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. 

Attorney Preston Easley handles personal injury cases involving maritime workers. He actively fights to defend the rights of injured crew members, passengers, longshoremen, maritime construction workers, dockyard workers, and other maritime workers. You can rely on his expertise in maritime law to protect your rights. Mr. Easley will fight to recover maximum compensation on your behalf. Contact the law offices of Preston Easley to book your consultation. 

Maritime Accident Lawyer Preston Easley is a Graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. You Can Rely on His Expertise in Maritime Law to Protect Your Rights. Contact Him Today For a Free Consultation About Your Case.

Types of Maritime Accidents and Injuries that a California Maritime Accident Lawyer can help you with 

Maritime workers vary in their occupation as well as their job sites. There are maritime workers that work at sea and others that work in offshore facilities. Maritime workers include seamen, construction workers, forklift operators, longshoremen, fishermen on commercial fishing vessels, and many more. Maritime accidents and injuries are therefore varied. Attorney Preston Easley has handled maritime cases involving but limited to: 

Defective maritime products 

California Maritime Accident Lawyer

Many maritime work environments are full of machinery including engines and other electronic equipment that are essential to operations aboard the vessel. The risk of injury is therefore quite high especially if there are defective products. Defective products under maritime law include those that are poorly designed, flawed, or poorly built. Manufacturers of these products as well as employers may be held liable for injuries resulting from the use of these products. 

Inadequate training 

Maritime jobs are amongst the most dangerous jobs in the country. There are therefore stringent laws and safety requirements that exist to ensure safety. For example, maritime workers must receive proper training to ensure that they can do their jobs properly and safely. Unfortunately, not all maritime employers adhere to these laws. Many in fact, overlook the training of their workers in order to meet deadlines. This may result in injuries in the workplace. These employers can be held liable for their negligence. 

Accidents due to unseaworthiness of vessels 

Natural water environments such as seas present many potential dangers even under good conditions. Maritime employers are required to provide reasonably safe work environments for their workers. This means that vessels should be designed, built, and maintained to provide safe conditions. Maritime employers and vessel owners can be held liable if the vessel is considered unseaworthy. Common injuries that occur as a result of working on an unseaworthy vessel include burns from fires or explosions, drowning or nearly drowning caused by the sinking of a vessel, broken bones from trips, and fall accidents. 

Dock and pier accidents 

Piers and docks are essential to maritime operations. They are a major part of any port and many activities related to maritime operations take place here. These activities include the use of heavy equipment and vehicles. Maritime workers in these environments are constantly on the go. The risk of an accident occurring in this environment is very high. Common accidents in docks and piers include fires and explosions, vehicular accidents, electrocutions, and crane accidents. 

Contact the Law Offices of Preston Easley for Free Consultation with an Experienced and Knowledgeable California Maritime Accident Lawyer 

Attorney Preston Easley is a knowledgeable and experienced California maritime accident lawyer. He has considerable experience handling both state and federal cases in maritime law. He has worked in the maritime industry and served in the navy. He will provide you with a unique perspective on your case. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Maritime Accident Claims

Do I qualify as a seaman?

Under the Jones Act, a seaman is defined as a person that spends a significant amount of time working onboard a vessel that is ‘in navigation’.  Under the federal act, a vessel that is said to be ‘in navigation’ is a vessel that is:

— Afloat 
— In operation 
— Can move 
— Is located on navigable waters 

A seaman may be a crew member or a captain aboard such a vessel. This vessel does not have to be moving or be at sea. It simply needs to meet the criteria outlined above. 
I am an injured seaman. 

Am I entitled to compensation?

Yes. Seamen are entitled to compensation under the Jones Act. The federal law provides seamen with the opportunity to seek three separate types of damages. Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can: 

Sue their employers for negligence: Employers are required by maritime law to provide seamen with a reasonably safe environment to work in. They are also required to maintain the vessel aboard which the seamen work and ensure it is in a reasonably safe condition. Maritime employers can be held liable for injuries that seamen suffer while working aboard a vessel. 

Sue the owner of the vessel for unseaworthiness: Vessel owners are required by maritime law to ensure their vessels are seaworthy. A seaworthy vessel has the right design for its functions. It is also equipped and maintained to provide a reasonably safe working environment for the seamen working on board. A vessel owner may be held liable if their vessel is considered unseaworthy. 

Claim maintenance and cure: Under maritime law, injured seamen are entitled to cure and maintenance from their employer. The employer is required to cover their medical expenses and provide for their upkeep while they recover from injury.

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Cases We Handle

  • maritime worker working on ship

    Longshoremen & Shipyard Workers

    Longshoring and shipyard work are very dangerous occupations. Workers in these fields, along with marine construction workers, are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, a very generous no-fault workers’ compensation system. It covers medical expenses, temporary disability, permanent disability and vocational rehabilitation.

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  • sea vessel docked at US shore

    Jones Act Seamen

    A seaman is a member of the crew of a vessel or group of vessels under common ownership or control. The vessel can be anything from a raft to a cargo ship. We represent seamen who work aboard recreational vessels, tugboats, dredges, barges, skiffs, workboats and cargo ships. We also represent seamen who are marine construction workers

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  • Diving

    We represent people who have been injured in SCUBA diving accidents and Commercial diving accidents. We also handle diving boat accidents. Diving can be very dangerous. We successfully represented a commercial diver who was seriously injured while cleaning the propeller of a U.S. Navy ship at Pearl Harbor

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  • accident at construction site and hard hat on floor

    Construction & Industrial Accidents

    Construction and industrial sites can be very dangerous. Although you generally cannot sue your own employer for a construction site or industrial accident (generally workers’ compensation is your exclusive remedy against your employer) there are many circumstances in which you can file a third party lawsuit against an entity other than your employer for an unsafe condition at a work site which causes you to be injured

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  • Forklift and Crane Injuries Lawyer

    Crane & Forklift Accidents

    The Easley firm has extensive experience with crane and forklift accidents and workplace accidents involving dangerous equipment and machinery. These accidents can be caused by operator error and they can be caused by the unsafe and defective condition of the equipment

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  • auto accident involving two cars on a city street

    Motor Vehicle & Truck Accidents

    Motor vehicle accidents can result in serious injury and death. These kinds of accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and unsafe road design and unsafe road conditions

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  • Catamaran Injuries Attorney

    Passenger Vessel Accidents

    Passenger accidents are common on recreational vessels, catamarans, tour boats and cruise ships.  They are frequently caused by rough sea conditions and unsafe conditions aboard the vessels.  The Easley firm has extensive experience in the field of maritime law.  We have made new law in the field of maritime law with numerous precedent setting decisions in the State Appellate Courts, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court

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  • Defense Base Act

    The Defense Base Act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act which covers civilian employees of U.S. defense contractors injured overseas, including war zones. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensations Act as extended by the Defense Base Act is a very generous no fault workers’ compensation system

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Areas Where We Practice

Preston Easley is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He served five years of active duty as a Naval officer — three years as a deck officer on a fast frigate and two years as a patrol boat skipper. Mr. Easley also served aboard a tank landing ship in the reserves.

waves

California

Hawaii

Let Us Get You The Compensation You Deserve

Preston Easley is an experienced lawyer with considerable expertise in handling federal and state personal injury cases. He will aggressively seek the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. Attorney Easley represents victims of serious and fatal accidents involving cars, trucks, construction projects and maritime work.

Construction Workers We Help

  • Crane and Forklift Operators
  • Pile Drivers
  • Scaffold Workers
  • Iron Workers
  • Carpenters
  • Electricians
  • Operating Engineers
  • Electricians

Maritime Workers We Help

  • National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) Shipyard Workers
  • Manson Construction Company Workers
  • Manson Dredging Workers
  • Dutra Dredging Workers
  • Commercial Divers
  • Scuba Divers
  • Commercial Fisherman
  • Government Maritime Claims Against the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, or the US Coast Guard, etc.
  • Marine Construction Workers
  • Offshore Oil and Gas Workers
  • Seamen
  • Shipyard Workers
  • YYK Enterprises, Inc.
  • Pacific Tugboat Service
  • Long Beach Container Terminal
  • Tugboat, Dredge, Longshoremen, and Ferry Workers
  • Barge Crews and Barge Workers
  • Marisco Limited
  • HL Welding
  • SSA Marine
  • Catalina Express
  • R.E. State Engineering
  • Shimmick Construction
  • Nova Group
  • American Scaffolding
  • Safway Scaffolding
  • Kirby Tugs
  • Crowley Tugboats
  • P&R Water Taxi
  • Continental Maritime
  • Pacific Ship Repair
  • Seaward Marine
  • Healy Tibbitts
  • General Construction
  • BAE Shipyards
  • South Coast Welding
  • Matson
  • Pasha
  • Hawaii Stevedores, Inc.
  • McCabe, Hamilton & Renny
  • Young Brothers
  • Sause Bros.
  • Foss Maritime
  • Fenix Marine Services
  • ITS
  • Total Terminals
  • TraPac
  • PCMC
  • Maersk
  • Yang Ming
  • China Overseas Shipping
  • Evergreen

Boating Accidents

  • Catamaran Accidents
  • Charter and Tour Boats
  • Cruise Ship Accidents
  • Passenger Accidents
  • Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft
  • Motorboat Accidents
  • Recreational Accidents
  • Scuba Diving Accidents
  • Speed Boat Accidents
  • Yachts and Sail Boat Accidents
  • Repair Accidents
  • Crew Accidents
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