Maritime Wrongful Death Lawyers

Maritime Accident Lawyers

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Maritime Injury Lawyers

Virginia is a “Top 10” maritime state, with our maritime industry contributing over $4 billion to the economy every year. Despite safety regulations and standards, maritime work is some of the most dangerous around, responsible for thousands of catastrophic injuries and deaths each year. Harbor workers, longshoreman, deckhands, oil rig workers, fishermen, and boat operators put their lives on the line every day, and sometimes fatal accidents happen.

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Maritime Law Lawyers

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Admiralty Lawyers

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Maritime workers have a fatality rate 6 times higher than land-based workers. 

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58% of people injured on recreational boats are passengers.  

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More than 50% of all boating accidents happen when the driver is inexperienced.

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Experienced Maritime Wrongful Death Lawyer

Finding out that your loved one has died in a maritime accident is traumatic enough, and while no amount of money can bring them back, you deserve to know your rights and seek appropriate reparations under the maritime law.

At Rutter Mills, we support families in this difficult situation, ensuring they receive the maritime death benefits they deserve. Selecting the right wrongful death attorney with experience in this complex area of law is critical to the success of your claim. Protect your interests by speaking to a maritime wrongful death attorney who can determine the true value of your case and fight to maximize your total recovery.

Wrongful Death at Sea Attorney Virginia Residents Trust

At Rutter Mills, we offer compassionate legal representation for families who have lost a loved one in a maritime accident. After an untimely death, you need advocacy of the highest caliber. Get honest information about your rights by calling Rutter Mills for a free initial consultation.

Our dedicated maritime law attorneys proudly serve the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.

Maritime wrongful death claims are different from your average lawsuit involving a wrongful death. Similar to state and federal laws on wrongful death, the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) has parameters on the types of damages families are able to obtain. In order to pursue compensation under DOSHA,

  • The death had to be attributed to either negligence or the vessel’s unseaworthiness and
  • The vessel must have been at least three nautical miles offshore at the time of the fatal incident

The Death on the High Seas Act provides recovery for the financial contributions that a decedent would have made to their spouse and dependents had they survived the accident. This includes reparations for:

  • Funeral costs
  • Lost income and future earnings: the survivors of the decedent are entitled the projected earnings until retirement in addition to Social Security benefits for a normal lifespan
  • Loss of benefits: If the decedent had health or medical insurance, family members are entitled to the cash value of those benefits
  • Loss of support: This may include coverage for a child’s continuing education
  • Loss of household services: Compensation for the routine household chores that the decedent would have performed. Tasks like housework, home repairs, and general maintenance that will now have to be contracted out

Our wrongful death lawyers leave no stone unturned when it comes to bringing justice to your maritime law case. Recovery may also be sought under the Jones Act, which applies to negligence on the part of an employer, the vessel’s owner, the ship captain, or the crew.  Unlike DOHSA, the Jones Act affords both wrongful death and survival benefits, which may include:

  • Pre-death pain and suffering – Monetary value of the decedent’s pain and suffering are recoverable under the survival provisions
  • Pre-death medical costs – Expenses paid towards the decedent’s hospital or medical costs
  • Loss of past and future income

In order to secure compensation under DOHSA or the Jones Act, your offshore wrongful death attorney must establish that negligence or wrongdoing occurred, or that the vessel was unseaworthy.

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Maritime Injury Lawyers

Wrongful Death at Sea Attorney Virginia Residents Trust

At Rutter Mills, we offer compassionate legal representation for families who have lost a loved one in a maritime accident. After an untimely death, you need advocacy of the highest caliber. Get honest information about your rights by calling Rutter Mills for a free initial consultation.

Our dedicated maritime law attorneys proudly serve the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.

In addition to the Death on the High Seas Act and the Jones Act, we are familiar with the various paths of legal recovery for maritime fatalities and will help you determine the best strategy for securing proper monetary damages.

Put your trust in our Norfolk-based legal team. Rutter Mills knows the law and has successfully resolved maritime accident cases that resulted in wrongful death.

TESTIMONIALS

You don’t have to worry about the bills, just get healthy.

Dave Put His Trust in Us

Don’t Fall For The Insurance Company’s Games

Dave suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The defendant’s insurance company tried to offer him a low amount so Dave called Rutter Mills. We took over dealing with the insurance and got Dave the money he needed to get back on his feet.

They enabled me to be happy in life again.

Get Back On Track

Protecting Your Future

Glenn’s car accident changed his life, but not permanently thanks to the help of his Rutter Mills attorney. When the insurance companies wouldn’t help him, our team fought back and won.

I knew I needed Rutter Mills.

Fighting For What's Right

Getting Justice

On his way home from work at the shipyard, Dan was involved in an accident. He tried to file a claim on his own, but the insurance company wouldn’t give him the money he needed to put his life back on track. Dan knew he needed to call Rutter Mills.

They actually won my case 3 times!

Larena's Win

After her car accident, Larena asked her father, a local stevedore, for his advice on who to call. He recommended Rutter Mills. Her team of car accident experts at Rutter Mills fought back when the insurance companies tried to deny her the money she needed to recuperate from her injuries. We took her case to trial – and won. When the insurance company filed their appeals, we beat them again – two more times! Larena got the money she needed and the justice she deserved.

We’re going to immediately call Rutter Mills. That’s the people I trust with my baby girl.

Who Do You Trust With Your Family?

After a car accident, Jamaree’s first call was to her mom. She was shaken up and scared. Mom told her “We’re calling Rutter Mills. Her next was to Rutter Mills. Her Rutter Mills car accident team helped her get compensation “above & beyond” what she was expecting.

They lifted allot of stress off my shoulders. I recommend them to anybody because they WILL fight for you.

Who Can You Turn To?

Referrals From Friends and Family

After John was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, he turned to the person he trusts most for a recommendation. His wife, a paralegal of 30 years, told him to call Rutter Mills on the advice of the lawyer she worked for.

They really care for you as a person. Words cannot describe what Rutter Mills did for me and for my case.

When You Need Someone In Your Corner

Don’t Go It Alone

When the insurance company tried to get Carol to sign paperwork after her car accident, she knew she needed a lawyer. Carol knew she needed Rutter Mills.

When I called Rutter Mills, I knew it was the right fit. They’re so interested in helping you get justice.

Getting The Justice You Deserve

When Mom Needs Strength

Taryn was in a car accident while she was pregnant. She knew she needed someone in her corner to protect her rights and her family’s future.

There’s attorneys, then there’s Rutter Mills.

We're Here When The Unexpected Happens

Priorities

A devasting accident changed Levon’s life forever. The physical and emotional toll left him scared and in pain. When the insurance company for the defendant contacted the family, they made an offer that did not even cover the cost of the medication, much less doctors’ bills, and physical therapy. They knew they needed to talk to a serious lawyer. Rutter Mills took care of the negotiation so Levon could focus on healing.

When you’ve got a serious injury, you need a serious lawyer. That’s why we chose Rutter Mills.

Motorcycle Accidents Change Everything

When Ed was injured in a motorcycle crash, he knew he needed a serious lawyer to protect his rights. The insurance companies were fighting him every step of the way. Rutter Mills helped prove Ed’s case and get him the money he needed to get on the road to recovery.

With the seriousness of the accident, I knew that we needed a serious lawyer. I needed Rutter Mills.

Carol & Levon's Story

They knew they needed a serious lawyer when Carol and her son were seriously injured. After the other party’s insurance company tried to get her to settle for less than she needed, Carol called Rutter Mills for help. We took on the insurance company so she could focus on healing.

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TESTIMONIALS How We Helped
Experience
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Years Winning Maritime Cases

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Convenient Offices in Hampton Roads

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Team Members Ready to Help

Maritime workers face unique hazards from noise, vibration, slick surfaces, and heavy lifting. One wrong step by a crewmember can spell disaster. 

Risky Business

At Rutter Mills,
every case is a serious case-because it's your case.

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Rutter Mills Law Firm

Personal Injury

We are here for you in your time of need, providing compassionate guidance and aggressive advocacy in a wide range of personal injury matters. Our top-rated attorneys will fight the insurance companies and get you back on your feet.

Personal Injury Lawyers
Personal Injury Lawyers

Car Accidents

We’re here to listen. A member of our team will meet with you, focusing on not only what happened, but also what you are going through and how it’s impacted your life. Then we’ll tell you what options are available to you to get on the road to recovery.

Car Accident Lawyers
Car Accident Lawyers

Maritime/Jones Act Law

Personal injuries that happen when you’re working – or playing – on the water aren’t governed by “the law of the land.” They are subject to maritime laws under the Jones Act– also known as admiralty law.

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Motorcycle Accidents

We’re here to listen. A member of our team will meet with you, focusing on listening to not only what happened, but also what you are going through and how it’s impacted your life.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are often serious. We are here to listen to your story so we can guide you to healing. Our team has represented some of the largest truck accident cases in Virginia. Call us and see how we can help you today.

Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accident Lawyers

Workers Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job, workers’ compensation insurance may entitle you to critical assistance like medical treatment, lost wages, and more. But insurance companies will put up an aggressive fight to resist paying you the compensation you need and deserve. Rutter Mills can help get you the money you deserve.

Workers Compensation Lawyers
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Real People. True Stories.

Contact a maritime injury attorney for expert legal guidance

A Rutter Mills case is a serious case. It may mean you have been badly injured. It certainly means you have a lot on the line, and the resolution of your case will make a big difference to you, your family, and your life moving forward.

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GOOGLE REVIEW

Don’t just take our word for it, see what our clients are saying about Rutter Mills.

Donald D.

Mr. Young and his team exceeded my expectations in the way they handled the case and kept me informed. They got involved with my medical billing issues from the accident and a workman's comp claim. They have resolved the issues with workman's comp. I would whole-heartedly recommend this firm.

Victor B.

What I loved about my Rutter Mills experience was the team approach they provided from start to finish. The paralegal Selena D. was always keeping me updated and accurately collecting information to make sure my case was on a strong foundation. My attorney, Adam Lotkin raises the bar to the highest standard. Adam's knowledge, experience, and grit afforded me the strongest settlement in my case. Top 1% settlement is the best way to describe it. Your attorney matters and I am so glad I choose Rutter Mills, Adam Lotkin, and team to represent my case. I will use Rutter Mills again for my future needs.

Cody W.

First off I want to thank Rutter Mills for the outstanding work they continue to do. I had a case recently and it was a complex one. My lawyer, Will Nexsen did an amazing job. I would highly recommend him and Rutter Mills. I want to give a big thanks to Julia, as well, for keeping me constantly in the loop. She always texted or called me back immediately with any questions and concerns I had. I greatly appreciated that.

Munira K.

Professional Law Firm . You are the best . Always available and very helpful.

Linda D.

I would like to think everyone at Rutter Mills for their wonderful service. Everyone from Christine to Melanie, Catherine and of course Dan. Catherine and Dan worked very hard on my case and looked out for my best interest. I never called an update as I was kept current. They’re truly an asset to the law firm. If I could give addition stars I would.

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Maritime Injury Lawyer Adam Lotkin: Thought Leader

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Adam Lotkin