Maritime Boating Accident Lawsuits
Experienced Maritime / Boating Injury Lawyers That Will Fight For You!
Boating accidents can be more complex than other types of transportation accidents because they often involve state and federal laws. If you or a family member has been injured in a boating accident, you have the right to file a lawsuit to receive financial damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and lost earnings capacity.
A Boating Accident can happen at any moment of the day. Boating accidents can occur on shipping vessels, ocean liners, cruise ships, pleasure boats, fishing crawlers, watercrafts, on docks, on offshore drilling rigs, waterways, sea, or any maritime related incident.
Cable Ship accidents can cause life-threatening physical injuries and trauma that can include financial damage to victims of negligent drivers. If you have been injured in a Boating Accident, knowing your legal rights can provide both financial relief and peace of mind.
There are more than 12 million boats registered in the United States.
Photo Credit: https://www.wtvq.com/2018/07/19/breaking-sheriff-8-people-dead-missouri-tourist-boat-accident/
Boat operators have a duty of care to other recreational boaters using waterways. Failure to be careful or engaging in careless or reckless boating can cause a serious or permanent injury.
If you are a passenger, or maritime worker that is injured in a boating accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Personal injury attorneys who are experienced in handling boating accident injury claims can help you or a loved one determine your legal options in a boating accident-related injury or wrongful death.
There are about 2,400 maritime accidents each year in the U. S. each year.
The National Safe Boating Council reports there are more than 700 boating deaths each year in the U. S. Alcohol use is the leading cause of death and injury in boating-related accidents.
Deadliest Boat Accidents Include:
- Boating Intoxicated
- Canoes
- Capsized Boat
- Drowning
- Fixed Object Collision
- Kayaks
- Motorboat
- Near-Drowning
- Open Motorboat
- Pontoon Boat
- Sunken Boat
- Water Skier Mishap
- Watercraft
Highest Number of Maritime Deaths Occurs in;
- Bays
- Creeks
- Dams
- Gravel Pits
- Gulfs
- Harbors
- Inlets
- Lakes
- Open Water of Oceans
- Ponds
- Reservoirs
- Rivers
- Streams
Many personal injuries occur due to negligence on the part of one of others involved. When a boating accident is caused by another party’s negligence you are entitled compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering as well as other damages.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident where you feel you may be entitled to compensation,
We offer a FREE NO COST consultation from an experienced boating accident attorney.
Complete the contact form on the right or call us at 1-888.267.1137 for a free case evaluation.
A live personal injury counselor is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day.
Time is of the essence when it comes to filing your Personal Injury lawsuit!
All of our experienced personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis and don t get paid unless you do!
Each State has a strict statute of limitations for you to file your Personal Injury lawsuit.
Boat / Maritime Accidents
Boat Accident Injuries
| Amputation |
| Back Injury |
| Brain Injury (TBI) |
| Broken Bones |
| Bruises |
| Burns |
| Coma |
| Concussion |
| Deep Cuts |
| Dislocation |
| Electrocution |
| Fatality |
| Head Injury |
| Hip Injury |
| Internal Injury |
| Internal Organ Injury |
| Knee Injury |
| Lacerations |
| Leg Injury |
| Neck Injury |
| Scrapes |
| Shocks |
| Spinal Cord Injury |
| Trauma & Ptsd |
| Whiplash |
Common Causes of Boat Accidents
Boat accidents can happen on lakes, beaches, harbors, rivers, and oceans. Here are common causes of boating accidents listed in lawsuits, court documents, and settlement news articles.
| Accidental Drowning Boat |
| Boat Hits A Wave |
| Boat Hits Another Boat |
| Boat Hits Submerged Object, Rock, or Land |
| Boat Is Swamped By Water |
| Boat Machinery Failure |
| Boat Propeller Defect |
| Boat Propeller Malfunctions |
| Boat Runs Aground on Reef, Rock, or Pilings |
| Boating Under The Influence (BUI) |
| Breaking Navigational Rules |
| Capsized Boat |
| Carbon Monoxide Poisoning |
| Collision with Another Vessel |
| Collision with Buoys |
| Collision with Channel Signs |
| Collision with Fixed Objects |
| Collision with Floating Objects |
| Collision with Immovable Objects |
| Collision with Jetties |
| Collision with Log |
| Collision with Other Vessels |
| Collision with Other Watercraft |
| Collision with Recreational Vessels |
| Collision with Rocks |
| Collision with Submerged Objects |
| Collision with Swimmer |
| Congested Waters |
| Contact With Propellers |
| Dam Lock Failure |
| Dangerous Weather |
| Defective Design Of Boat |
| Defective Parts |
| Defective Safety Equipment |
| Defective Watercraft Design |
| Defective Watercraft Manufacturing |
| Distracted Boater |
| Drowning |
| Equipment Failure |
| Excessive Boat Speed |
| Explosions |
| Failing To Carry Safety Equipment On Board |
| Failing To Know The “Rules Of The Road” |
| Failure Of Equipment |
| Failure To Follow Boating Rules And Regulations |
| Failure To Have Proper Safety Equipment On Board |
| Failure To Vent |
| Falling Overboard |
| Falls Overboard |
| Fires |
| Flooding And Swamping |
| Force Of A Wave/Wake |
| Grounding Boat |
| Hazardous Waters |
| Hitting Big Wake at Excessive Speed |
| Hitting Water Markers |
| Hull Failure |
| Ignition Of Fuel |
| Ignition Of Vapor |
| Improper Anchoring |
| Improper Loading |
| Improper Look Out |
| Improperly Trained Boat Operator |
| Inadequate Navigation Aid |
| Inadequate Onboard Navigation Lights |
| Inattention by Boat Operator |
| Inexperienced Boat Operator |
| Intoxicated Boat Operators |
| Lack Of Experience Boat Operator |
| Manufacturing Boat Defect |
| Mishaps Involving A Person Falling Overboard |
| Missing Navigation Aid |
| Navigating in Heavy Weather |
| Navigation Rules Violation |
| Not Having Required Safety Equipment |
| Operating At High Speeds |
| Other Boat Operators |
| Overcrowding The Boat |
| Overloading The Boat |
| Passenger Recklessness |
| Poor Maintenance |
| Reckless Driving Boater |
| Restricted Vision |
| Run-Over by Boat |
| Sharp Turns |
| Sinking |
| Skier Mishaps |
| Slip-and-Falls |
| Speeding Boats |
| Towable Objects |
| Traveling In Dangerous Water |
| Trip-and-Falls Boat |
| Unlicensed Boaters |
| Weather Conditions |
Boat Accident Statistics
- 8,000 boating accidents are reported by the U. S. Coast Guard each year.
- There are about 2,400 maritime ocean accidents each year.
- The most common type of boat accidents is capsizing and collision with another boat.
- There are 700 boating deaths each year in the U. S. – National Safe Boating Council
- 3 out of 4 people killed in boating accidents die from drowning.
- Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in 16% of all boating deaths.
- Boating accidents result in financial costs of about $46 million in property damage each year.
- 76 percent of boating accident deaths result from drowning.
- 85 percent of fatal boating accident victims were not wearing a life jacket.
- 80 percent of fatal boating accidents happen on vessels where the boat operators did not have property instruction in boating safety.
- The highest percentage of boating accident deaths and injuries involve crashes with another watercraft.
- There are roughly 12 million recreational water vessels registered in the United States.
- Of the recorded 4,291 boating accidents in 2017, there were 2,629 injuries and 658 deaths.
- 4,700 recreational boating accidents take place each year in the United States.
According to a U. S. Coast Guard report the 5 most common types of boating accidents are:
- Collisions with other vessels
- Collisions with fixed objects
- Flooding
- Grounding
- Falls overboard
In 2017 the United States Coast Guard (USCG) counted 4,291 recreational boating accidents, causing 658 deaths, and resulting in over 2,600 injuries.
Boat Injury Settlements & Verdicts
$1 Million Settlement for a Slip & fall from factory trawler’s defective stairs resulting in permanent back injuries for the worker.
$3.5 Million Settlement for a Fisherman’s Head Injury caused by negligent lift procedures.
$400,00 Settlement Award – For Burn Injuries from a fire and explosion in the engine room of the fishing vessel.
$17 million Settlement for a duck boat tragedy that killed 17 people in Missouri.
$29.6 Million Settlement for Delaware River Pier 34 catastrophe that killed 3 young women and resulted in dozens of injuries.
$5.9 Million Settlement for a plaintiff that fell over the side of the boat 40 feet below and struck the deck.
$4.2 Million Jury Award for a wrongful death judgment for longshoreman killed by unsafe cargo container stow.
$2.35 Million Settlement for a boat deckhand with a crushed foot injury caused by a moving deck hatch on a Vessel found unseaworthy and neglected.
$2 Million Settlement for a ferry boat worker that suffered severe fractures to both legs from a defective mooring line.
$4.5 million Settlement for a Boat worker that received 2nd and 3rd degree steam burns over 60% of her body while inspecting safety checks on a vessel.
$12 Million Award for a Child that suffered severe head injuries when he was hit by a boat propeller on a dive boat.
Collect Boat Accident Evidence
Evidence collected at the scene of a boat accident to support your case can be crucial to you getting financial compensation.
Get Evidence to Support Your Case
| Name And Address Of Boat Operator |
| Names Of Witnesses |
| Address Of Boat Company |
| Boat License Number |
| Insurance Information Of Boat Driver |
| Phone Number Of Boat Driver |
| Phone Number Of Boating Company |
| Take Photos, Videos, And Audio |
| Keep Records Of All Related Medical Bills |
| Write Down Your Recollection Of The Accident |
| Seek Immediate Medical Treatment For Any Injuries |
Proving Your Injury Claim
Whether you have filed a lawsuit or an insurance claim against a negligent boat owner you will have to prove:
| Boat Owner And Operator Owed You A Duty Of Care. |
| Boat Operator Was Negligent. |
| Boat Operator’s Negligence Was The Direct Cause Of The Accident. |
| Boating Accident Caused Your Injuries. |
Federal Laws That Govern Boating Accidents on Seaworthy Waters
The Jones Act (1920) is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the U. S. and protects Americans who work at sea.
The Oil Pollution Act (1990) helps the EPA’s ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills and determining damages.
Death on the High Seas Act (1920) provides financial compensation to families of shipmen who died while being in the active line of duty.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (1953) covers the outer Continental Shelf of the U. S. and provides guidelines for implementing oil and gas exploration and development programs.
The Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act is a federal law that provides compensation, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation to injured workers disabled from on-the-job injuries that occur on the navigable waters of the United States,
Determining Liability in a Boating Accident
In a boating accident personal injury lawsuit, the injured victim will name as defendants anyone who may be responsible for causing the accident.
Common examples of individuals and parties that may be held liable for boating accidents include:
| Boat Operator |
| Boat Owner |
| Boat Manufacturer |
| An Employer |
| Boat Passenger |
| Jet Ski Operator |
| Anyone Else Responsible For The Accident |
For a boating Injury lawsuit to be successful, personal injury lawyers have to show that your injury resulted from the negligence of another party. In the case of a personal Injury lawsuit victims and immediate family members have the right to file a personal injury claim.
Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
What Are Asbestos Trust Funds?
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation from Asbestos Trust Funds.
Asbestos companies that have filed for bankruptcy protection have established asbestos trust funds to pay claims. There are about 65 active Asbestos Trust Funds totaling more than 30 billion.
Since the mid-1980s more than 100 Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Funds have been established in the U.S. At least a dozen trust funds have equities exceeding $1 billion.
More than 30 billion dollars is currently available for distribution to qualified applicants. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Funds have set criteria of values they pay to qualified claimants.
Asbestos Trust Funds have paid out $18 billion for more than 3 million claims!
Maritime Boating Accident Injury Damages
When boat manufacturing companies are negligent with improper equipment maintenance, structural maintenance, design flaws, and defective parts they can be held liable for injuries caused to innocent people that suffer serious injuries or death.
Victims in injury-related claims are entitled to damages including:
Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you or a family member has been injured in a maritime boating accident, we can help you start an injury lawsuit against responsible parties to help with medical bills and financial compensation.
Our experienced nationwide boat accident injury lawyers will help you get just and fair compensation for your injuries.
Call our Injury Toll Free Helpline at 888.267.1137 and get help today!
We can usually tell within a few minutes whether we can help you, and if we cannot, maybe direct you to someone who can.
We are always available 24 hours a day to answer your questions with a phone call or email and we will do everything we can to ensure that you receive the highest compensation for your injuries.
If you have a question about an injury or wrongful death lawsuit, you do not have to come into our office. Call us, and you will speak directly to a lawyer, and if a lawyer is not available, your call will be returned as quickly as possible.
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Fill out our free injury case evaluation form and an experienced injury lawyer will call you to immediately start processing your claim at no cost to you.
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