Astoria, OR

Address: 2021 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon, 97103
Phone: 800-SEA-SALT (800-732-7258).

Astoria is most definitely a maritime town. As the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, it has one of the richest histories in maritime experience, and was first visited by Captain Robert Gray in 1792.

Astoria's current maritime employment includes cruise ships, fishing charters, salmon, sturgeon, crab, purse seining, and an unending view of oceangoing, large merchant vessels. Astoria is, of course, where the Columbia pours into the Pacific Ocean.

Astoria is also home to one of the largest number of major shipwrecks – over 200 – known to have occurred near the mouth of the Columbia River, and it is sometimes referred to as the "graveyard" of the Pacific. The wreck of the Peter Iredale is still visible on the beach at Fort Stevens State Park.

We have represented injuries at sea from vessels with crews as small as one person. Commonly, smaller vessels will be staffed by two to three crew members. Nonetheless, in many circumstances, persons working suffering maritime injured on these vessels, no matter how small, may qualify for federal benefits under the Jones Act or general maritime law. Many mariners working aboard small boats are completely unfamiliar with their rights under federal law, and many often assume that because it's a "small" boat, they have no rights in case of maritime injury. However, in many circumstances there are employer insurance collective groups providing insurance coverage. In appropriate circumstances, a lien against a vessel may arise automatically as a result of injury, resulting in the vessel becoming subject to attachment to ensure compensation for medical expense and injury loss.

We meet maritime injury clients in Astoria or the greater Astoria area, and have often done so over the past many years. Also, we have assisted some of our clients in obtaining second medical opinions in Seattle to benefit from the latest medical technology.

We will dispatch experts, including marine safety and injury experts, for accident investigation. In appropriate cases, we will also obtain copies of workers compensation records relating to accident or maritime injury if a seaman, or claimant who has rights under The Jones Act or general maritime law, has a previously existing workers compensation file.