Maritime insurance compensates maritime corporations or workers should their vessel, cargo or crew be damaged or lost during a particular journey or a fixed amount of time. Having maritime insurance is essential because:

• The particularly dangerous nature of maritime jobs significantly increases the risk that these employees will be seriously injured or killed on the job.
• Maritime corporations own a substantial amount of expensive property and need to be protected in the event of property damage or employee claims against the business.

Various types of maritime insurance include:

• Hull & Machinery Policies (that protect the vessel)
• maritime business insurance
• maritime insurance for individuals
• maritime medical insurance

Maritime Insurance Companies

Here is a list of some of the most renowned maritime insurance companies throughout the U.S.:

• Bupa International (several locations worldwide)
• Capitol Risk Concepts, Ltd. (White Plains, New York)
• Flagship Group, Ltd. (Norfolk, VA)
• Global Marine Insurance (Traverse City, MI)
• HTH Worldwide (Radnor, PA)
• International Special Risks Marine Insurance (Lynnfield, MA)
• Maritime Insurance Group, Inc. (Sheboygan, WI)
• Shorepoint Maritime Insurance (Costa Mesa, CA)
• The Maritime Financial Group (Trinidad)
• Western Maritime Insurance (Stockton, CA)

Maritime Health Insurance

In addition to providing property and life insurance, some maritime insurance groups offer health insurance services that, depending on the policy selected, may cover:

• access to a multilingual health line
• international out-patient consultations
• diagnostic procedures, such as MRIs, x-rays and ECGs
• in-patient and out-patient treatments
• emergency medical or dental care
• hospital stays
• emergency evaluations

Maritime Insurance Claims: What to Do Following an Offshore Injury

If you, your vessel or your cargo is somehow damaged in the course of a maritime accident, it's essential that you consult with an experienced Jones Act lawyer to.

• Learn more about your legal rights
• Find out if the Jones Act entitles you to larger settlements than those offered by your maritime insurance agency (The Jones Act, also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, allows maritime employees to collect compensation if they are injured or suffer losses due to an employer's, crewmember's or equipment manufacturer's negligence)

Initial consultations are free, and maritime attorneys work on contingency to encourage eligible parties to seek the settlements they deserve.

Those who have a viable legal claim and choose to work with an esteemed maritime lawyer can ultimately win compensation for outstanding medical bills, ongoing treatment costs, lost wages in the event the damage prevented him/her from working, and pain and suffering.

Learn more about your legal rights by contacting us today.