Boat Accident Attorney
Get compensated for your injury with the help of top-rated
Boat Accident attorneys.
Putting Your Faith in The G Law Group Pays Off
According to the insurance Research Council, injury victims who hire personal injury lawyers get 350% more in compensation than those injured persons who do not hire a lawyer.
Of all injury cases that insurance companies do settle, 85% of these claims are comprised of people that are represented by injury lawyers.
We offer a 100% guarantee: if we don't win your personal injury case, you pay us nothing in fees. Our injured clients know that putting your faith in The G Law Group pays off.
Boating accident victims are oftentimes faced with a web of complicated federal, state, and international maritime laws. This can make building a claim to receive compensation for boating accident injuries a difficult process. At The G Law Group our skilled boat accident attorneys do not stop fighting until we recover compensation for boat accident victims. We understand the ins and outs of the laws that apply to your claim, and our lawyers have the expertise to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and of course, pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a boating accident, please fill out our free case evaluation form today.
What causes the most boating collisions?
Boating collisions can happy for many reasons, from operator negligence to improper maintenance, or even simply weather conditions. Here are some vessels commonly involved in boating collisions.
-
personal watercrafts
-
yachts
-
sailboats
-
cruise ships
-
inflatable boats
-
pontoons
-
cabin cruisers
-
amphibious vehicles
Unfortunately, alcohol far too often plays a crucial role in causing boating collisions. In fact, alcohol is the leading cause in most boating fatalities according to the U.S. Coast Guard. That means if you plan on drinking while on board, always make sure to designate a sober captain.
A large amount of boating collisions also happen at night, because objects are harder to see and distances are most difficult to judge. Some boats may also not have functioning navigational lights, which make them almost impossible to see until it is too late. If you plan on boating after dark make sure to be extra cautious to avoid an accident.
What are the Common Causes Of Boat Accidents?
Boating accidents can occur due to a wide range of causes and result in a number of consequences, including significant financial cost, property damage, and injuries to individuals on- and off-board.
In 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,439 boating accidents, which caused 2,641 boat accident injuries. Tragically, 658 fatalities occurred in 2021 as a result of boating accidents, which was actually a 15% decrease from 2020 fatality rate. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 44% of those deaths occurred on open motorboats, by far the highest percentage of fatalities. The primary causes of death in boating accidents are alcohol use, hazardous waters, inexperienced or inattentive boat operators, and weather conditions.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, primary causes of boating accidents include:
-
inattentiveness
-
speeding/ sharp turns
-
navigation rules violation
-
alcohol use
-
machinery failure
-
force of a wave/wake
-
inexperienced boat operator
-
hazardous waters
-
weather conditions
-
restricted vision
-
improper maintenance
.png)
faqs
What Are My Legal Rights After A Boating Accident?
After a boating accident, you are entitled to monetary compensation if someone else's negligence caused your injuries. You can pursue a claim against the captain of the other vessel or against the driver of the boat that you were on, depending on who is the at fault party. If you were injured while aboard a friend’s boat, you should not hesitate to make a claim since it will likely be made with the insurance company, and not your friend personally.
You can also pursue a claim against a boat manufacturer or a boat mechanic if defective parts or lack of maintenance led to your injuries. Knowing how to pursue a claim after a boating accident can be difficult, so it is important to speak with an experienced boat accident attorney. The top-rated boat accident attorneys at The G Law Group will help you obtain evidence, gather proof of liability or negligence, and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
What is Negligence?
Boat owners and operators must exercise reasonable care at all times to prevent harm to passengers, other boats, swimmers, jetski riders, or anyone else that could be affected by their actions. Whenever the captain of a ship fails to exercise reasonable care, they can be held accountable for their negligence. If people get hurt on account of a boat owner or operator's negligence, then the injured party and sometimes their loved ones can recover financial compensation.
Boat owners and operators may demonstrate negligence in a number of ways:
-
speeding
-
taking turns too quickly
-
driving into a big wave or wake at high speed
-
hiring inexperienced crew
-
not avoiding hazardous waters or weather conditions
-
boating under the influence
-
not having proper safety equipment
-
colliding with other boats or objects
-
overcrowding or overloading the boat
Other forms of negligence may include:
-
physical or sexual assault by a crew-member while onboard
-
failure to avoid heavy weather
-
failure to maintain safe appliances and equipment
-
failure to rescue
-
failure to supervise
-
among other forms of negligent or reckless behavior
additional locations
What is Product Liability?
In some situations, boat accidents can occur not as a result of the boat operator's negligence, but due to problems related to the vessel itself—such as faulty design, defective parts, and defective appliances on-board. These can result in dangerous situations such as fires, electrocutions, explosions, crashes, or mechanical failure.
Under these circumstances, injured victims may be able to bring claims against the manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and owners of the boat. No matter who is responsible for your injuries, our skilled boat accident lawyers will prosecute your claim until resolution, even if it means going up against a large manufacturing conglomerate. We have the skills needed to pursue to your boat accident claim against any responsible party, until you obtain just compensation. Especially if any product that caused your boat accident was not manufactured according to industry standards.
Are Injured Maritime Workers Entitled to Compensation?
Deck hands, officers, service staff, and any others working onboard a maritime vessel— or maritime workers as they are known under the law - have the right to sue their employer for injuries that occur at sea. Under a federal law called the Jones Act, maritime workers can pursue boat injury claims against their employer. If your maritime injuries were caused by failed compliance with mandatory safety requirements, then you may have a claim under the Jones Act.
What are the Common Types of Boat Accident Injuries?
The types of injuries sustained in boating accidents in the U.S. can vary widely depending on the nature or severity of the accident. Most boat accident victims suffer long-term effects from their injuries, even if symptoms are not always readily apparent.
Common injuries seen in boating accidents include:
-
scrapes and bruises
-
dislocation/broken bones
-
lacerations
-
amputation
-
concussion
-
electrocution
-
shocks
-
burns
-
whiplash
-
brain injuries
-
spinal cord injuries
-
internal organ injury
-
death
Under these circumstances, the boat owner or operator is required to file a boat accident report with the individual’s state reporting authority.
Federal law also requires boat owners and operators to be in compliance with several other safety measures. For example, boats must have life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, visual distress signals, and proper ventilation to name a few.
Depending on the type of boat you were in when you suffered your injury additional federal, state, and local laws may apply. Cruise ships and other commercial vessels, for instance, are subject to different laws and requirements than a personal vessel.
How Can a Boat Accident Attorney Help Me?
Our boat accident lawyers will use our expertise to determine all federal, state, and local laws that apply to your claim. We have the tools needed to gather evidence, ascertain the responsibly parties, and quickly bring forth the best possible claim to ensure you receive just compensation.
It is important to contact a skilled boat accident attorney as soon as possible. If you fail to file a lawsuit for your boat accident injuries within the applicable statute of limitations, then your claim for compensation may be forever time barred. Fill out the form below to receive a 100% free case evaluation or call our top-rated boat accident attorneys today at (305) 709-8877.
What Damages can be recovered in a Boat Accident Injury Claim?
Boating accident injuries can result in enormous cost, depending on the nature of the accident and the severity of the injury. Boat accident victims may face high medical costs, ambulance costs, experience loss of earnings, and of course, pain and suffering.
If the injury results in severe or permanent damage, this can have devastating effects on the individual and those around them as they navigate this unexpected future. Surviving family and loved ones are oftentimes forced to bear the brunt of this unexpected change, with the sudden loss of income and companionship felt twofold. Filing a personal injury claim or a lawsuit for boating accident injuries can give individuals the opportunity to receive compensation for these losses.
Types of damages that may be awarded in boat accident injury claims include:
-
medical expenses
-
medications
-
medical devices, such as back/neck braces
-
cost of future medical treatment
-
lost wages
-
loss of earning capacity
-
pain and suffering
-
other losses directly related to the injury
What Laws Apply to Boat Accidents?
Boat operators are subject to a complex web of federal, state, and maritime laws to ensure proper operation of their vessel and to protect the safety of any passengers aboard.
Under federal law, boat owners and operators are required to report any accident that occurs on-board when the accident involves:
-
death
-
disappearance of one or more passengers
-
resulting injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid
-
over $2,000 vessel or property damage
-
destruction of the boat