The family of a sailor aboard the El Faro, the cargo ship that sunk while out to sea during Hurricane Joaquin, is filing a $100 million lawsuit against the vessel’s owner and captain.
The lawsuit was filed in Duval County Court on Wednesday.
The man was among the 33 men and women aboard the freighter that sunk Oct. 1 in 15,000 feet of water east of the Bahamas.
The suit alleges that Tote Maritime and its captain were negligent in choosing to sail a 41-year-old cargo ship into dangerous weather. The lawsuit claims that Tote needs to place more emphasis on employee safety and less on profits.
Tote has not yet issued a response to the lawsuit.
Wrongful death suits are are usually quite complex and some of the hardest lawsuits to file, mostly due to the high level of emotion behind these cases and the grieving process that surviving family members are still going through. Despite the hardships of these cases, they are necessary, as consulting with a wrongful death lawyer can help the family recover compensation from the at-fault party to pay for costly expenses like a funeral, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering.
When a loved one has passed away due to the legal fault of another party, the family can be eligible for monetary compensation. It is important to act fast and contact a personal injury lawyer at Whittel & Melton who can help initiate and negotiate the process of a wrongful death suit, so that you and those closest to you can focus on healing from this tragedy. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.