The Great Lakes are a group of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America at the Canada-U.S. border. They form the largest group of freshwater lakes on the planet by total surface, which totals 80,545 square miles. They hold an astounding 21% of Earth's total surface fresh water. Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario comprise the Great Lakes. The following states border part of one or more of the Great Lakes: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Cargo and vessels moving between ports on the Great Lakes are governed by the Jones Act. This means that when a worker on a vessel is injured, he or she may be entitled to receive benefits under the Jones Act and/or other applicable maritime laws. A Great Lakes maritime injury attorney can help you determine which laws may apply to your particular situation, if you or someone you love has been injured as a maritime worker on any of the Great Lakes.
There are 15 international ports and approximately 50 smaller ports on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system. Some of the key U.S. ports include:
At Arnold & Itkin LLP we represent injured seamen, vessel workers, harbor workers, and longshoremen throughout the United States. This includes those working on the Great Lakes as well as those working offshore or in any navigable waters in the nation.
If you are interested in finding out more about your rights as a seaman, longshoreman, or harbor worker, you can count on the knowledgeable guidance an offshore injury lawyer at our firm can provide. We have handled countless maritime claims and have successfully recovered billions of dollars for our clients in settlements and verdicts.
To learn more, contact a Great Lakes maritime injury attorney today.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.