The Death on the High Seas Act (“DOHSA”) was enacted into law by Congress in 1920. The Act,46 USC Sec. 761, states:

Cruise ships are a good value for travel and entertainment enjoyed by many people each year. However many of those who take voyages on these vessels are unaware of the potential dangers and Peter M. Commette, P.A., a resort accident lawyer, can help when you have been injured at a hotel or resort. Florida and the Caribbean Islands are known for lavish resorts, which is why many people visiting Florida or the islands spend time at these magnificent but surprisingly dangerous establishments. Because the Florida resorts see so much tourism traffic, coupled with a harsh environment of sand, salt air, humidity, UV rays and employees from other cultures who are not used to and who do not honor our standards of care in the United States, tourists often sustain serious damages. Worse yet, the Caribbean resorts think that they are beyond the reach of the standards of care that we expect and require in the United States, so that, in addition to the same harsh environment and different cultural standards, the design, construction and maintenance of their facilities are not up to the par that they should be, and that they pretend to have in their advertisements. As a result, tourists often sustain serious injuries. If you have been injured when visiting a resort or hotel in Florida or the Caribbean Islands, Peter M. Commette, P.A. is here to guide you through the legal process.

Cruise ships are a good value for travel and entertainment enjoyed by many people each year. However many of those who take voyages on these vessels are unaware of the potential dangers and their rights. Cruise ship accidents are common, dangerous and can lead to extensive injuries. The corners cut in providing this relatively inexpensive travel are not fully realized until there is an injury, that injury many times caused by either the vessel’s safety not being up to the standards we expect in the United States (they are not subject to many of our laws), or enhanced by their medical personnel whose standards of care also are not up to the standards we expect in the United States. It is important to have a qualified attorney who deals with these types of injuries and understands them in the context of the admiralty or maritime law that controls them. Peter M. Commette, P.A. understands the handling of cruise ship accidents.

Every year, hundreds of boaters discover first-hand the difference between contract towing and salvage. The discovery is typically made when the surprised boat owner receives a bill for a salvage reward that is a significant percentage of the value of his vessel, as opposed to a bill for towing services. The typical towing bill is based upon the hourly-rates of the towing company. While such bills can be considerable, they will usually pale by comparison to a bill for a salvage reward.