Baltimore Bridge Collapse Lawsuit Lawyers
A ship collision led to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the death of six people. Video footage of the incident shows the ship losing power, regaining power, and losing power again right before the crash occurred. The crash occurred at around 1:30am on March 26, 2024. The MV Dali departing from the Port of Baltimore struck a support tower of the bridge and caused it to collapse into the Patapsco River. Eight people, part of a pothole repair crew, were on the bridge at the time of the collision. Two people were rescued from the water (one of which sustained injuries). The six others are presumed dead due to the time elapsed since the collapse and the temperature of the water (the search-and-rescue efforts ended over 18 hours after the collapse). The twenty-three mariners aboard the ship were not injured.
A few moments before the collision, the ship reported a “Mayday,” so the authorities were able to stop traffic over the bridge. Although the loss of the workers is tragic, the incident could have potentially had a much higher death toll.
The incident remains under investigation, as it is unclear whether the incident occurred due to a mechanical failure or human error.
If you suffered injuries or a member of your family lost his or her life in this incident, you may have the right to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. For more information about the legal options available to you, please reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our team here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group is fully committed to fighting for your rights. If you are ready to speak with our bridge collapse injury lawyers, contact us today.
$1.93 Million
$2,287,495
$54 Million
$22 Million
$600,000
$965,000
Assaulted By Employee
$1,900,000
$1,975,000
The collision remains under investigation. However, video footage shows the ship losing power shortly before the crash. Therefore, there are assumptions that the crash occurred because of this electric failure that possibly caused the ship to veer off course before striking one of the pillars. The authorities continue to work towards determining the cause of the crash. In addition, the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate into the bridge’s structure and whether it had previously been flagged due to safety concerns.
Details about the Ship that Caused the IncidentThe Dali is a container ship chartered by Maersk (a Danish shipping firm); it is managed by the Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private (both Singapore-based companies). The Dali was built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea; it is approximately 950 feet long and has a breadth of approximately 160 feet. The ship sailed from Asia through the Panama Canal to Norfolk and New York prior to Baltimore; at the time of the collision, the ship was departing and heading to Sri Lanka.
Who Is Liable for the Incident?Liability is yet to be established. If it is determined that the incident was caused by human error or mechanical error on the ship, then the owners/operators of the ship could be liable and could be sued. However, it is also important to note that liability could fall on the Maryland Transportation Authority. That is, if the investigation finds that the bridge had safety issues that were not addressed (like needing to install support structures), then the transportation agency could be liable. Currently, it is too early to establish liability. However, it is important that victims and their families are prepared to take legal action. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team today to learn more about your rights after this devastating incident.
Who Can File Wrongful Death Claims?If your family member died in this incident, then you could file a wrongful death claim. Under Maryland law, wrongful death claims can be filed by the following parties:
- Spouses
- Parents
- Children
If the deceased did not have a surviving spouse, parent, or child, then any person related to the deceased either by blood or by marriage who was dependent on the deceased could have the right to file a wrongful death claim. If you are unsure of your right to file a wrongful death claim, contact us today.
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations which determines the time that claimants have to file their claims. In Maryland, wrongful death claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, meaning that claimants only have three years to file their claims. If claimants fail to file their claims on time, then they can lose their right to sue entirely.
Of course, this deadline varies from state to state. If a member of your family died in a collapse incident in another state, then another deadline would apply. For example, in California, wrongful death claims are subject to a two-year deadline.
Contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group TodayHere at our law firm, our team is committed to fighting for the rights of victims and their families. Our lawyers have decades of experience handling injury claims and wrongful death claims and can guide you every step of the way. We understand that it could be very difficult for victims and their families to come forward and seek justice. To make things easier, our team offers free legal services. During these free legal services, our experts will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – our lawsuit lawyers will provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. These are available as part of our Zero-Fee Guarantee, which ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees. In addition, our law firm works on a strict contingency structure, so our clients will not have to pay anything unless their claims are successful. If you do not win, you simply will not be responsible for paying anything.
If you are ready to speak with our wrongful death lawyers, contact us today
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