Maritime Injury Attorney - Personal Injury Lawyer

Representing Accident Victims in Florida and Throughout the Nation

Free Initial Consultations

Our Florida law firm handles a wide variety of personal injury matters, including those involving admiralty and maritime law, boating injuries, oil rig injuries, brain injuries, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, and wrongful death.Firm founder John W. Merting is a highly regarded trial attorney who is committed to helping clients recover the compensation they need and deserve.

At the Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A., we have obtained successful out of court settlements and jury verdicts for blue water sailors, off shore oil workers, deckhands, fishermen, tugboat and barge operators, longshore workers, and others who have been injured in maritime accidents. We represent clients in both state and federal court.

Select Recent Cases:

AB vs. CD Boat Livery

Personal watercraft passenger sued personal watercraft owners/livery for traumatic /anoxic brain injuries arising from a collision between two rental watercraft. Case settled during mediation for confidential amount, utilizing a trust and lifetime annuity which will provide enhanced lifetime financial security.

Petition of RJF International Corporation for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, Civil and Maritime, U.S. District Court - Rhode Island - Case No. 01-588-WS.

An 18-year old deckhand on a corporate owned mega-Yacht fell from the afterdeck striking his head on a concrete fuel dock, and then was under water for 7-10 minutes.The injuries included traumatic and anoxic brain injuries with quadriplegia, spasticity and blindness.The case was intensively litigated and included several full blown evidentiary hearings and an appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals (1 step below the U.S. Supreme Court) on several critical maintenance and cure issues.We were successful on every issue.The case ultimately settled, after two full days of mediation, for $5.4 Million, in addition to almost $2 Million of maintenance and cure obtained previously.A Special Needs Trust was established which preserves the seaman's entitlement to state and federal government financial and medical benefits for life.

John Doe and Family v. XYZ, Inc., U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana.

Suit was brought in Louisiana by an offshore oil field worker against the owner and operator of an offshore oil facility for damages resulting from a mild brain injury sustained when he fell down some allegedly defective stairs on the facility.After extensive litigation and two separate mediation sessions, the case was successfully settled for $3.4 Million.Our efforts also resulted in the worker retaining the vast majority of his Social Security Disability benefits and his long-term disability income insurance benefits.

Debra Peters v. Coastal Materials of Alabama and FCCI Insurance Group

Florida workers' compensation case settled for in excess of $1 Million. Mr. Merting obtained a decision awarding a female construction worker permanent total disability benefits for a low back injury more than 15 years earlier. Full permanent total disability compensation and all medical was paid for these years. The settlement provides a large up-front cash payment sufficient to buy a handicapped accessible home, pay off all debts, and leave a substantial cash cushion. Additionally, the settlement provides a substantial monthly annuity for her life. Two additional annuities were utilized to fund a Medicare Set-Aside and pay for professional administration of same. The client's personal annuity and the Medicare Set-Aside annuity are guaranteed for a substantial number of years so that, in the event of claimant's premature death, the insurance company will not receive a windfall. Had the case not been settled, Florida law would have provided zero benefits to claimant's family since she obviously did not die from her original injury within 5 years. The settlement assures the claimant of lifetime financial security and independence from the workers' compensation insurer, and assures her family significant financial benefits in the event of claimant's premature death.

We accept referrals, act as co-counsel, and serve clients nationwide in serious injury matters involving personal injury and maritime law.

Contact our lawyer to speak with him at no charge about any matter involving federal or maritime law. Our attorney has a worldwide practice, representing clients nationwide and throughout the world who have been injured at sea. Our Pensacola area law firm serves mariners throughout the Gulf Coast in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A.
Maritime Personal Injury Attorney
Gulf Breeze, FL