Our Maritime Accident Cases

For the better part of a century, CaseyGerry has been successfully representing people injured at sea. The firm was involved in trial in the largest maritime accident in U.S. history, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill case. In addition to the Exxon litigation, below are some of the firm’s past maritime accident cases involving both recreational and commercial vessels.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef and ran aground. The reef tore the hull, which released 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Thousands of fisherman, landowners, and others filed a lawsuit against Exxon for the damage the oil spill caused. Five years later in the first phase of the trial, an Anchorage jury found Exxon and the tanker’s captain, Joseph Hazelwood, liable for punitive damages. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $287 million in economic damages in the second phase. In subsequent phases of the trial, the jury determined how much in punitive damages to impose upon the defendants. The final judgment included an award of $5 billion in punitive damages, which was finally reduced to $500 million. CaseyGerry was the only San Diego law firm involved with the historic case. The firm represented more than 1,000 fishermen and was instrumental in the resolution of the case.

Two Die in Boating Fire

A father and son were killed aboard a sailboat two miles off the coast of San Diego. An electrical lamp ignited under cushions in the interior of the boat. The cushions caught fire, and the two passengers died of smoke inhalation.

One Person Dies in Boat Collision

A pleasure craft struck a sport boat in San Diego Bay. The driver of the Whaler fell overboard and was in the water under his boat for about five minutes before the Coast Guard rescued him. He was in a coma in the hospital before he was removed from life support and died.

Lawsuit Against Dangerous Yacht Design Defect

In this product liability lawsuit, the manufacturer of a sailboat was aware of major design defects and failed to warn of the potential dangers. The sailboat did not have stability built into the boat. There was no secondary warning system to let users know that the sailboat was unstable and provided no means of monitoring the water level in the tank from the helm.

Coast Guard Hits Recreational Boat   

A member of the U.S. Coast Guard recklessly plowed a 900-horsepower fast patrol vessel into a holiday boating parade. The Coast Guard vessel struck a recreational boat, destroying it and injuring passengers on board.

Jet Ski Severely Injures Man in Raft

During a company outing, a man driving a jet ski-type watercraft negligently struck CaseyGerry’s client, a man in an inflatable raft towed by a powerboat. The man suffered a spinal cord injury, which paralyzed him from the chest down.

Man Struck by Boat While Swimming

The driver of a chase boat made a sweeping turn and drove into an area where two rented houseboats had made a safety zone for swimming. The boat struck CaseyGerry’s client while he swam to one of the houseboats. He suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Child Injured at Sailing Camp

A 10-year-old boy was injured at a sailing camp at a Naval Base on Fiddler’s Cove.  He was on a 16-foot sailboat with introductory sailors. The sailing instructor and 15-year-old assistant were on a motorboat. The assistant drove the motorboat to splash the sailboats, and he ran into the sailboat and totaled it. The 10-year-old was taken to the Naval Hospital ER for X-rays and a CT scan, which showed a compressed fracture in his vertebra. He was fitted with a back brace.

Getting Help from Experienced Maritime Injury Attorneys

Our clients’ injuries vary from case to case, but they all occurred as a result of someone else’s carelessness. If you were injured at sea, CaseyGerry can help. There may be a time limit to seeking compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Call CaseyGerry at (619) 238-1811 to speak with a member of our legal team.