Practice Areas

Admiralty & Maritime Law — The Law of the Sea has its roots going back more than 2,000 years. It regulates the business of carrying cargo and passengers over water.

People who work on navigable rivers, lakes and the high seas have different rights than those who work in land-based jobs. If injury or death occurs as a result of an employer's negligence on a navigable vessel, the worker may have a claim against either the employer under the federal Jones Act or against another party causing the injury under General Maritime Law. Examples of neglect can include faulty equipment, asbestos or toxic chemical exposure, slippery walking surfaces, untrained seamen, and sinking or mechanically malfunctioning vessels. The employee or family of the deceased may be entitled to lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, future income, future medical expenses, and a spouse's loss of services and society.

Investigating a maritime accident is very different from investigating accidents that happen on land. The trial attorneys at Jaques Admiralty Law Firm have a very in-depth understanding of the intricate laws that govern employment on navigable waterways and have experience in representing injured workers.

Medical Malpractice — Health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and hospital staff must abide by a standard of care in treating and dealing with patients. Failure to do so can result in traumatic injuries for which the medical professionals and the hospitals where they work can be liable. Improper conduct can include misdiagnosing diseases, prescribing the wrong or conflicting medication, delaying or failing to provide treatment, surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes and child delivery mistakes. Mistakes made during birth can result in maternal as well as infant injuries, including cerebral palsy, brachial injuries, developmental problems, brain injuries and death.

Personal Injury — Personal injury lawsuits arise when someone breaches a duty to someone else, causing that person physical or emotional injury. Each victim may be entitled to file a claim for physical and emotional injuries and property damage.

The attorneys at Jaques Admiralty Law Firm have decades of experience pursuing compensation for victims through settlements and litigation. Our clients’ injuries range from respiratory ailments, head injuries, spinal injuries, loss of limb, paralysis and traumatic brain injury. We deal expertly with insurance companies and other parties to ensure victims are fully compensated.

We offer injury victims free initial consultations and they pay no fees until their claim is paid. Please contact us if we can be of assistance with injuries in the following areas:

• Exposure to asbestos or toxic chemicals
• Serious auto accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Injuries at work
• Railroad accidents
• Plane crashes
• Construction accidents
• Motorcycle, ATV, boat or bike accidents
• Injuries from defective products and drugs; products liability
• Recreation accidents
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Fires or explosions
• Drowning
• Electrocution
• Wrongful death

Vehicle Accidents — Vehicle accidents can be caused by reckless conduct or negligence. Most accidents are minor fender-benders, but some cause severe injuries, permanent disability and even death. With these traumas usually come pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, medical expenses and property damage, all of which the responsible party, or their insurance company, may have to compensate for.

Our firm aggressively pursues legal rights for serious accident victims. Our attorneys are skilled at handling complex insurance claims relating to vehicle accidents, whether you or the other driver is insured, uninsured or underinsured.

Our expertise includes:

• Serious motor vehicle accidents, collisions and crashes involving cars, semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailer trucks, trains, bicycles, buses, boats, motorcycles, all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs) and pedestrians
• Hit and run accidents
• Alcohol and drug-related auto accidents, collisions, and crashes
• Highway and road design defects and construction zone accidents
• Rollover accidents involving cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) accidents and crashes
• Rear-end collisions
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims and insurance litigation

Products Liability — Adults and children often are injured by design flaws and defects that result in dangerous products, including cars and other auto industry products, construction materials, appliances, children’s toys, cribs, car seats, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and other consumer goods. Manufacturers are responsible for designing and manufacturing safe products, and they can be held liable when they fail to do so.

We handle defective products cases involving:

• Design flaws and design defects
• Manufacturing flaws
• Inadequate instructions or warnings
• Household appliances
• Consumer products
• Children’s products
• Airbags
• Seatbelts
• Motor vehicles
• Prescription drugs, including Vioxx, Celebrex, Paxil and Fen-Phen

Workers’ Compensation — Someone who is injured on the job is entitled to fair compensation for his or her injuries and financial strain. All employers in Michigan are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. Injured workers are entitled to receive lost wages and necessary medical treatment, including therapy, prescriptions, and any medical supplies to treat their injury. If a person is temporarily disabled due to an on-the-job injury, he or she is entitled to receive disability payments. A permanent disability also is an entitlement to compensation.

Workplace injuries may include fractures, lost limbs, lacerations, head injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injuries, and injuries caused by other employees or equipment.

While workers' compensation laws can be complicated and ever-changing, the experienced attorneys at Jaques Admiralty Law Firm know your rights and how to fight to get the money clients need to take care of their bills and their families.

Accidental / Wrongful Death — A wrongful death lawsuit involves a person who, through recklessness, negligence or inaction, causes the death of another. Any situation that can cause a personal injury can result in an accidental death. Surviving dependents and beneficiaries, including parents, spouses and children, are generally eligible to file a claim. Damages can include lost wages, mental anguish, loss of companionship, medical costs and other expenses. Our firm has handled numerous wrongful death actions and obtained substantial settlements and verdicts for our clients.