HIRING THE RIGHT BOATING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IS ESSENTIAL

BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYERS 

Injured in a Boating or Offshore Accident?

You may be entitled to significant compensation.

Federal, state, and international maritime laws all have regulations regarding ship accidents. As a result, building a claim for compensation can be an involved process. Our Boating Accident Lawyers have years of experience handling these complicated claims. We have helped clients injured in boating accidents across the U.S. obtain compensation for their losses.

This includes medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We know the details in and out of local boating laws, and we know the little details that can make or break a case, and we have the ability to obtain you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Boating accidents are one of the many practice areas that our litigation attorneys cover, and our particular expertise in this area could be the thing that helps you. If you were injured in a boating accident, please complete our free, no-obligation case review form today.

How Can A Boating Injury Lawyer Help Me?

Our attorneys have handled personal injury and maritime claims throughout the United States, and they will use that experience to identify applicable laws, statutes, theories, and jurisdictions for your claims. They have an intimate knowledge of those laws. With that information, we are able to determine who may be responsible for your losses, depending on which body of water your incident occurred on, and what kind of accident it was.

Failing to bring a case within the time limits set by the individual statutes of limitations in your state for personal injuries can result in your failure to collect damages for your injuries. It is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Discuss your Case With a Boating Accident Lawyer!

Call (888) 491-0444 or complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this website.

Boating Under The Influence: Under State laws, it is illegal to operate a boat if you have been using drugs or alcohol. If a person is accused of operating a vessel under the influence, he/she should submit to a sobriety test. Refusal to submit to the tests will result in a suspension of the operators boating and driving privileges. An individual is drunk, according to the law, if his or her blood or breath level is at or above.08 percent. Anyone under the legal drinking age with a blood or breath alcohol level of more than.02 is considered intoxicated.

Any person who has registered blood or breath alcohol levels exceeding their permitted limit can face a fine, imprisonment, and/or probation.

Reckless and Careless Operating: Under the provisions of most state Rules of Navigation and Federal regulations, a person operating a boat “with deliberate disregard of the safety of persons or property” can be charged with reckless operating, a misdemeanor, a class 1 misdemeanor. Boat operators are required to operate “their vessels in a reasonable and prudent manner, in light of the movement of other vessels, posted restrictions, the presence of the Divers Down flag, and other circumstances” in order to maintain safety of other boaters, guests, and property. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to a ticket for negligent operation. Multiple citations will require an offender to take a boating education class before they are allowed to operate the vessel again.

Jones Act & Longshore Claims: Our attorneys have also handled claims on behalf of workers injured on the job as they seek workers compensation benefits. Learn more about this practice here. Injuries sustained from jet-ski crashes may be much worse than injuries sustained from larger boating accidents, given the exposed nature of the operator. While a Jet Ski accident may be due to the operators negligence, defective equipment may infrequently contribute to an accident. Parties that can be held responsible for damages include negligent boat operators, jet ski rental companies who provide equipment, or manufacturers who sold defective and/or improperly designed products.

What legal remedies are available for boating injuries?

Victims of a boating accident can pursue legal action to obtain compensation for personal injuries and/or property damages. In some cases, a boater can face criminal charges if he/she is operating recklessly, negligently, or while intoxicated. Negligence is the most common cause of action for which wrongful death claims are filed for boating accidents. In most cases, if an operator of a boat fails to comply with prescribed boating rules, passes the other boat improperly, or fails to use/have adequate safety equipment aboard, he/she can be held responsible for negligence during the accident.

If a case goes to trial, the jury will decide whether the operator of the boat was operating the boat the same way a “reasonable boater” would. To recover damages, a plaintiffs injuries must be directly related to a boating accident. It is essential to gather evidence, including witness statements, police reports, and photographs at the site of the incident and injuries, in order to make a negligence claim. In these types of suits, an injured person must show that the boating accident was caused by the others negligence or carelessness, they were injured in it, and the responsible party is responsible for any associated damages. The parties liable for injuries from boating accidents will differ from case to case.

Liability in boating accidents, and the laws that apply to an injured persons claims, will depend on an individuals status aboard the boat (whether he is a member, occupant, operator, or owner), and on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Accidents near the shore are likely covered by the laws of the state and federal jurisdiction, whereas accidents farther inland might be covered by the laws of the sea. If you are hurt in an accident on the water, you could be eligible for compensation. Our personal injury attorneys understand the particularities that set boating accidents apart from other motor vehicle accidents, and they may be able to assist you. To learn more about how our boating accident lawyers might be able to help you, please complete our free, no-obligation case-review form today.