Berschler & Draluck

Maritime Attorneys

Your Legal Rights

Are Our Business

A dedicated law firm that helps with your Maritime Matters

Your Legal Rights

Are Our Business

A dedicated law firm that helps with your Maritime Matters

You've Come To the Right Place


At Berschler & Draluck, we help clients obtain a positive resolution to serious injury and wrongful death claims. We represent credentialed mariners in U.S. Coast Guard misconduct proceedings.

Our focus is on the law related to the maritime industry, including injury, wrongful death, U.S. Coast Guard actions, TSA security actions, collisions and vessel ownership. We practice in state or federal court nationwide, as each case may require.

 

The substance and related procedures of maritime and admiralty law differ greatly from the law applicable to “shore-side” matters. Achieving the best result in your case, demands lawyers who are skilled and knowledgeable in which law to apply, what facts to gather and how best to present evidence.

 

The attorneys at Berschler & Draluck have practiced maritime law for more than 58 years.


We have obtained results for injured mariners, seafarers, commercial fishermen, cruise ship passengers and recreational boaters located across the United States, around the world, and in Washington State.

You've Come
To the Right Place


At Berschler & Draluck, we are dedicated to providing superior and compassionate legal counsel to maritime and admiralty clients injured by another party’s wrongful conduct. We have decades of experience.


We usually offer contingency fees (no attorneys fees upfront) for our legal services in cases of personal injury, wrongful death and maintenance and cure.


We emphasize obtaining the benefits of Maintenance & Cure for seafarers and commercial fishermen, and full compensation to injured workers or survivors.


No matter where you live, no matter where you sailed, no matter which cruise line is involved, we can help.


If you, a loved one, a friend has suffered an injury at sea or on other navigable waters, call or contact us – 24/7 – to set up a consultation at no cost.

Our firm is prepared to help you navigate legal proceedings
to obtain full compensation for your losses and to protect your livelihood.

Meet Our Attorneys


Photo of Arnold I. Berschler

Arnold I. Berschler

Maritime Law, Personal Injury,

Wrongful Death

  • Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and a California Certified Legal Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law.
  • Lead attorney in published opinions emanating from the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, and from the State of California Court of Court of Appeals. Litigates cases in the state and federal court level.
  • Litigates administrative hearings before the United States Coast Guard.
  • Represents clients whether they be injured at sea or be victims of personal injury or wrongful death accidents ashore, or vessel owners-operators.
  • We have contributed to the development of case law applicable to vessel-side personnel under Title VII, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (42 U.S.C., §§1981; et seq;) the Civil Rights Act of 1964, amended in 1991 (42 U.S.C., §§ 2000e; et seq.)
  • Has won cases at trial and on appeal under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.c., §§2674; et seq.
  • Admitted to the Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals

Eric R. Draluck

is licensed to practice law in Washington State and California, and holds a Master’s degree in Public International Law.

ERIC R. DRALUCK is licensed to practice law in Washington State and California, and holds a Master’s degree in Public International Law.



  • Before going into maritime law, he represented individuals and small business, mainly in personal injury, immigration, and general civil law.
  • He has wide-ranging experience in case preparation, dispute resolution, litigation, and appeals. He taught legal research and writing, edited academic and legal texts in human rights law, and he worked on development of legal tools for the International Criminal Court.
  • Eric’s approach in each case is to understand the client’s issues and needs, to use the law toward those ends, and to communicate fully with the client every step of the way.

Protect Your Rights


Protect Your Rights


Seafarers


If you have been seriously injured at work, your employer is legally required to take care of you by automatically paying for medical care and paying you money for each day you are not fit for duty. This is Maintenance and Cure law. Additionally, you have the legal right to seek money damages for pain and lost wages when you have finished with medical treatment.


BE CAREFUL! Choices you make can reduce or increase what you receive.

 

PROTECT YOURSELF NOW by following this check-list::

 

  • If you have not done so already, report your injury immediately.
  • Be sure to make a written injury or illness report.
  • Ask for a copy of that report.
  • Ask to be sent ashore for medical treatment.
  • Get names and contact information of crew who saw the accident or who know you were hurt.
  • Keep your copies of sign-off papers, shore-side medical care papers and travel papers.
  • Do not accept a settlement or sign documents without first speaking with a maritime lawyer.


BE AWARE! Once you settle, you cannot reopen your claim.


Cruise Ship Passengers


Contact us for a free consultation to learn about your rights.


Some operators try to bar claims for illness by the terms of your ticket. Read the back of the ticket carefully. It contains restrictions on what you can claim and what you must do to avoid legal barriers to making a claim at all.


Usually a written claim must be sent to the vessel operator within six months of the accident, illness or sickness before you can file a law suit, and a law suit must be filed within one year of the incident/accident/onset of illness.


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