Death on High Seas Act Law and Legal Definition
The Death on High Seas Act (DOHSA) of 1920 allows the families of sailors and seamen who have perished in the international waters, to claim or recover damages based on the future earning potential of the lost crewmen. DOHSA grants damages to death that occurred beyond three nautical miles from the shore of any state. DOHSA grants damages only in the form of monetary compensations and does not provide for recovery of non-pecuniary damages.
