Lawyer Specialized in Maritime Accidents and Collisions
Accidents at sea demand swift, strategic, and technically informed legal responses. Whether involving a shipwreck, collision, salvage operation, or bodily injury, these incidents trigger complex liabilities under both public and private maritime law. At Marty Legal, we offer specialized legal counsel and representation for shipowners, operators, insurers, and injured parties navigating the legal aftermath of maritime accidents. Our experience spans international conventions, such as the RIPAM the COLREGs, and national procedures before the French Marine Casualties Investigation Board (BEAmer), Maritime Courts, and civil jurisdictions. With deep knowledge of maritime operations and contractual frameworks (BIMCO, Lloyd’s Open Form, etc.), we secure and enforce our clients’ rights swiftly and effectively. From grounding and collision damage to salvage rewards and injury compensation, we ensure your legal position is protected with rigour, foresight, and technical accuracy, whether at sea, at port, or before the courts.
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Legal Representation Following Shipwreck or Vessel Grounding
A shipwreck, grounding, or serious casualty at sea initiates a chain of legal, technical, and administrative consequences for the shipowner. Marty Legal assists clients from the immediate aftermath through to final legal resolution. We intervene before key authorities, including the BEAmer (Bureau d’Enquêtes sur les Événements de Mer) and the Maritime Court, ensuring compliance with mandatory reporting obligations, preservation of evidence, and protection against premature liability admission. Our advisory includes both civil defence and insurance-driven litigation strategies.
Beyond procedural representation, we provide shipowners with contractually sound guidance in negotiating salvage, re-floating, and wreck removal operations, typically governed by BIMCO contracts or the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF).
Securing Maritime Assistance Claims
Maritime assistance, or salvage, occurs when a vessel voluntarily aids another in distress—entitling the assisting party to a reward under international law, provided certain criteria are met. Marty Legal advises both assisting and assisted shipowners on asserting or evaluating such claims, ensuring that all elements, danger, voluntariness, success, and value saved are properly evidenced and preserved. We assist in drafting and enforcing salvage agreements, recovering assistance fees, and addressing disputes regarding the proportionality or entitlement of the reward.
Collision Liability and Damage Recovery
Maritime collisions, whether underway or at anchor, often result in substantial material damage and involve complex questions of navigational error and liability. Marty Legal represents shipowners and insurers in determining and apportioning liability under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). We provide strategic guidance from the initial investigation through to expert assessment and formal litigation.
Our firm handles not only civil claims for hull damage but also urgent measures to secure maritime claims, such as vessel arrest or protective seizure of bank guarantees. For example, we recently intervened in a collision case involving two motor yachts off Antibes. By analysing AIS data, radar tracks, and eyewitness accounts, we established breach of Rule 15 (crossing situation), leading to a favourable indemnification for our client. Our mastery of COLREGs, marine insurance law, and evidentiary procedures ensures that collision disputes are resolved efficiently and decisively in our clients’ favour.
Representation for Victims of Maritime Bodily Injury
When a maritime incident results in bodily harm—whether to crew, passengers, or third parties—specific legal regimes govern compensation and liability. Marty Legal represents injured individuals and their families in asserting their rights before civil and maritime courts. We assess liability under applicable frameworks (e.g. French Transport Code, Athens Convention), quantify damages, and ensure due process during negotiations or judicial proceedings.
In one case, we assisted a yacht crew member injured during a failed mooring manoeuvre. By securing expert medical evaluations and establishing the shipowner’s breach of safety obligations, we obtained a favourable settlement covering medical expenses, lost income, and moral damages. Marty Legal also assists in defending shipowners against unfounded claims, ensuring balance between compassionate redress and legal rigour. Whether the injury results from a collision, equipment failure, or navigation error, we offer responsive, empathetic, and expert legal assistance from the first incident report to final compensation.
Trust Marty Legal to Defend Your Interests in Every Stage of a Maritime Accident
By choosing Marty Legal to represent you in maritime accident cases, you secure a legal partner with proven expertise, technical acuity, and unwavering commitment to defending your interests in every phase of the post-incident process.
Maritime accidents demand swift, informed action. We combine legal rigour and technical insight to protect your rights from the first report to final resolution.
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