Freight claim

A freight claim or cargo claim is a legal demand by a shipper or consignee against a carrier in respect of damage to a shipment, or loss thereof.

Typically, the claimant will seek damages (financial compensation for loss), but other remedies include "specific performance", where the cargo-owner seeks delivery of the goods as agreed. At common law, any carrier has a duty to act with reasonable despatch. A "common carrier" may have strict liability, but normally the standard of care is only one of "due diligence", or acting "properly and carefully".