Discovered as far back as 1542 and annexed in 1909, the Port of Los Angeles is the busiest shipping port in the United States (just edging out the port of Houston) and the 16th-busiest container port in the world. With this amount of traffic, and factoring in the huge population of Los Angeles already, there’s plenty of boats and companies vying for space in the port – which can lead to some unfortunate accidents. If you’ve suffered a maritime injury in the waters around Los Angeles, O’Bryan Law will fight to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.*
Port of Los Angeles Maritime Traffic & Accidents
Unsurprisingly due to its size and location, the Port of Los Angeles sees more traffic and cargo than anywhere else in America, and the shipments that pass through it are of the highest cost and value in the United States. In 2020, a total of 456,028 containers full of imported goods passed through the port, with an accompanying 126,353 containers of exported goods through the same year. The port is so big it warrants its own district with its own government, associated with the overall government of Los Angeles.
Sadly, any port this big carries with it a huge risk of both accidents and worker’s rights issues. Injuries and deaths can occur even while vessels are docked, such as injuries resulting from faulty cargo-transporting equipment or explosions aboard docked and immobile ships and tankers. The port has also seen its fair share of strikes and lockouts in recent years, as the size of the port means a large concentration of longshoremen, harborworkers, and dockworkers. Strikes have occurred as recently as 2002 and 2015, with work slowing down until better working conditions can be reached.
Los Angeles Pleasure Boating
It’s not all work on the waters in Los Angeles, and there’s plenty of room for cruise ships and recreational boating as well. The World Cruise Center, located within the port, is the largest cruise ship terminal on the West Coast and serves as the frequent home of the Queen Mary 2, one of the largest passenger ships ever built. If you’re looking for something a bit more local, the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation department sponsors boating events in three recreational lakes throughout the city, and plenty of local businesses will offer a chance to rent a jetski or speedboat for the day.
Los Angeles Maritime Attorneys
No matter how fun your weekend or how rewarding your work, there will always exist the possibility of injury and death on the water. If this should befall you or your family while on or off the job in Los Angeles, or anywhere on the waters of California, the maritime lawyers of O’Bryan Law will stand up for you and your rights. Contact O’Bryan Law today with any maritime law questions or needs you may have.
*Dennis M. O’Bryan is enrolled to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which hears appeals from the federal district courts of California. He is also admitted to practice before the Northern District of California, which has venue in admiralty for the State of California. In those federal district courts in which he is not generally admitted to practice, such as in Los Angeles, he gains admission pro hac vice, on a case by case basis, by securing the sponsorship of a reputable local attorney. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, where his office is located.
