About the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) was created by the US Congress in 1920 to provide recovery of damages for the death of anyone killed on or over international waters when their death is caused by wrongful act or neglect. It allows for the family member or personal representative to make a claim against a shipowner for financial compensation for their loved one’s death.
To make a Death on the High Seas Act claim, there are certain rules that must be followed. Not only must you be able to prove that your loved one died as the result of neglect or misconduct on the part of the shipowner, but you must also be able to prove that they were a sufficient distance from shore for the Death on the High Seas Act to apply. Finally, you must pull together the appropriate information and file your claim within the time specified by the Death on the High Seas Act statute of limitations.
As you might imagine, it can be incredibly stressful to think about filing a claim and entering the legal system while you and your family are trying to process your grief. That is why many family members of those killed under maritime law choose to hire an experienced maritime attorney to help them file their Death on the High Seas Act claim.