22 USC § 3777 - Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t22/s3777"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "22 USC § 3777 - Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim"
title_number: 22
title_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE"
section_number: "3777"
section_name: "Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim"
chapter_number: 51
chapter_name: "PANAMA CANAL"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS"
part_number: "4"
part_name: "Claims for Injuries to Persons or Property"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1417, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, § 3544, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2867.)"
---


# § 3777. Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim may not be considered under this subpart, or an action for damages lie thereon, unless, prior to the departure from the Panama Canal of the vessel involved—

**(1)** an investigation of the accident or injury giving rise to the claim has been completed, which shall include a hearing by the Board of Local Inspectors of the Commission; and

**(2)** the basis for the claim has been laid before the Commission.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 1417, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, § 3544, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2867.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Par. (1).  amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “an investigation by the competent authorities of the accident or injury giving rise to the claim has been completed; and”.