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Death on the High Seas Act Benefits

If you have lost a loved one, you are facing an incredibly difficult time in your life.  Many problems follow the death of a spouse, family member or partner, especially if he or she provides much-needed income.  There is a law that allows survivors of deceased seamen to pursue compensation, which will help offset the financial loss.

The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) gives the surviving family members and dependants the opportunity to recover financial benefits.  Under this law, benefits are available when the death was due to negligence or an unseaworthy vessel.  The requirement is that the death had to have taken place on the high seas beyond three miles from the shore of any U.S. state, District of Columbia, U.S. territory or dependency.

A spouse, parent, child, or dependent relative can file a claim to receive DOHSA benefits.  A legal action can be made to recover damages that include any monetary loss incurred from the seaman’s death.  There is only a three-year window to file the claim, which starts from the date of the offshore accident.

For more information or legal advice, contact Houston Maritime Lawyer Steve Lee at 800-232-3711 or 713-921-4171.  Also, read the article titled, What Every Seaman’s Family Needs to Know about the Death on the High Seas Act, for additional details on this topic.