AVIATION, MARITIME & BOAT ACCIDENT - A Discussion on the Law and Lawyers

The law of air and sea commerce or travel encompasses many elements of law such as contract, personal injury, administrative, and criminal. Due to the variety of legal questions involved, questions about aviation and maritime law should be directed to an attorney.

Aviation Law

Aviation law regulates and adjudicates air travel and commerce and is determined and managed almost exclusively by federal law from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA governs all aspects of flight from commercial passenger and commercial shipping, to proper licensing and regulation of pilots. Attorneys in aviation law are highly specialized and can help parties understand and comply with aviation regulations, file lawsuits for violations of regulations or procedures, and negotiate and draft contracts for air travel transactions in accordance with relevant aviation law.

Maritime Law

Also referred to as admiralty law, maritime law presides over contracts, transactions, injuries and other legal issues that occur on navigable waterways such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. In the United States the federal government and federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over maritime law, and as such serve as the governing authority over the law of the sea. Some common maritime law issues are disputes over cargo or ships lost at sea, injuries to seamen or passengers aboard ships, and ship-owner liability. If your case or legal issue may involve a body of water, it is important to consult a maritime attorney.

Boating Accidents

Accidents that occur while boating can have very similar criminal and other legal consequences that result from a car accident. Boating accident laws can vary drastically from stat to state, so it is important to be aware of the local boating laws. For example, drinking and driving a boat is considered a crime in many states. A defendant in a boating accident case can be another boater, a boating organization, or the seller and manufacturer of the boat. A boating accident attorney will be able to assist you with local boating laws and in determining the cause of a boating accident, the parties at fault, and damages owed.