Baltimore, Maryland is waking up to sheer devastation with the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse earlier today. A massive container ship from Singapore-flagged Dali chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, sending a section of the vital artery plummeting into the Patapsco River. Rescue crews are engaged in a desperate search for survivors, with as many as seven people unaccounted for.
The Dali can carry 10,000 20-foot shipping containers and was operating on a route between Baltimore and Asia as part of an alliance between Maersk and MSC, according to Xeneta spokesperson.
Maersk is one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, moving everything from apparel and car parts to electronics and heavy machinery on board more than 700 vessels around the globe.
The focus remains on search and rescue and the search and recovery efforts with two people already pulled from the water and seven people left unaccounted for in the unfolding tragedy. However, the sheer scale of the disaster casts a long shadow. Families directly impacted will undoubtedly carry the scars of this event for years to come.
Beyond the human cost, the financial implications are staggering. Replacing the bridge will require billions of dollars, and the ship’s insurance will face immense pressure to cover the damages. Legal action is also a near certainty.
The Legal Landscape:
- Negligence and Wrongful Death Suits: Investigations will focus on determining negligence on the part of the ship’s captain or crew. If negligence is established, families of those killed may file wrongful death suits.
- Personal Injury Claims: Survivors who sustained injuries will likely pursue personal injury claims to recoup medical costs and lost wages.
- Workers’ Compensation: Workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits, which can cover medical expenses and lost wages due to work-related injuries or death.
What This Means:
The legal process can offer a path toward financial recovery for those affected. It is important to understand that:
- Workers’ Compensation: This is typically the first line of defense for injured workers. It provides benefits regardless of fault but may not cover all damages.
- Personal Injury Claims: These claims allow individuals to seek compensation for pain and suffering in addition to medical expenses and lost wages. However, proving fault can be complex.
- Wrongful Death Suits: These suits are filed on behalf of deceased victims’ families and can recover damages such as lost financial support and companionship.
The coming days and weeks will undoubtedly see a focus on firstly searching for the unaccounted for people and ensuring that the injured are receiving the medical attention they need.
At Karell Trial Attorneys, our thoughts and prayers are with all the individuals and families affected by this devastating tragedy, and we send prayers to the people of Baltimore.
In the midst of today’s disaster, we hope that all individuals affected seek out proper legal representation to inform them of their rights in order to receive the compensation they deserve to help them recover from what can only be described as a catastrophe.
In the interim, our thoughts remain with the first responders bravely searching for survivors and with the families facing unimaginable hardship.
