---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 3777"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "3777"
heading: "Investigation of accident or injury giving rise to claim"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/3777"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Panama Canal"
  - "Subchapter I — Administration and Regulations"
  - "Part 4 — Claims for Injuries to Persons or Property"
  - "Subpart ii — vessel damage"
---

# §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](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2); and
- (2) the basis for the claim has been laid before the [Commission](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=2).

## 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–201 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”.