Boating Accidents

Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries as a result of boating accidents – and these injuries are often serious, even deadly. Boating accidents occur virtually everywhere on the water – and they can involve both leisure boaters and commercial maritime workers, such as tugboat workers, fishermen, ferry workers and other crew.

Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, we've been successfully helping maritime injury victims for more than 20 years. We understand that boating accidents vary greatly, and an in-depth understanding of state, federal, personal injury, and maritime law is essential. If you have been injured in a boating accident, please submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636). We handle maritime law claims from port cities along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington DE, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville FL, Fort Lauderdale FL and Miami.

If your accident involved a commercial watercraft, there are very specific sets of rules governing water-related injuries, such as the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, as well as the general maritime doctrine.

However, if you were hurt in a recreational boating accident, motor vehicle rules may apply, depending upon the state in which the injury occurred. Insurance coverage for recreational boats is also a factor, and insurers often attempt to deny benefits or minimize the amount of damages paid.

Compensation for a boating accident injury depends upon a number of factors:

• Location of accident – proximity to shore, state, international waters, etc.;
• Type of boat involved, whether leisure or commercial';
• The legal jurisdiction – whether the case involves state law, federal law, or maritime law;
• The role negligence played in the accident.
  
  

Boat owner and operators owe a certain level of responsibility whether the vessel is a speedboat or a large commercial ship, so our attorneys evaluate each situation carefully to assess what caused your accident – and which laws apply. We have successfully recovered damages for clients, including maintenance and cure, past and future medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

Regardless of what caused your boating accident and which law is applicable in your case, if you have suffered a boating accident injury, you must act quickly to secure compensation. There are statutes of limitations that restrict the time you have in which to file a boating accident claim, so it's important to contact a lawyer as soon as you can.

At Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, our most important goal is to help you get your life back on track – and we have a 20-year track record of success to help make that happen. Please submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case.