Boating Accident Lawyer

A boating accident can turn a pleasant day on one of New England’s peaceful waterways into a catastrophe. Boating accident injuries can be severe and cause permanent injuries. In more serious cases, they can be deadly.

At the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers in Boston, boating accidents are one of our practice areas. Our attorneys have the skills and experience to handle your boating accident case and recover maximum compensation for your injuries for you and your family.

Our attorneys know all too well how a boating accident can upend your life. Our team of caring and compassionate attorneys will work tirelessly to get you the relief you need to move forward. We work on cases on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no out-of-pocket costs unless we’re able to recover money for you.

Our boating accident attorneys are uniquely equipped to handle all types of boating accident cases. Whether your boating accident involved a drunk or otherwise negligent boat operator, a defective boat or boating equipment, or a jet ski or water-skiing accident, our attorneys are ready to roll up their sleeves and fight for you. We have successfully handled all types of boating accident and injury cases throughout Massachusetts.

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Any delays could hamper your case and prevent you from obtaining a full and fair recovery from all responsible parties.

With more than 20 years of experience in personal injury law, the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has been on the winning end of a wide variety of boating accident claims, including those involving:

• Commercial boats
• Motorboats
• Sailboats
• Charter boats
• Party boats
• Pontoon boats
• Yachts
• Fishing boats
• Rafts
• Kayaks and canoes
• Jet skis
• Water skiing and other towing activities
• Marina and docking activities

Our boating accident attorneys can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Many boating accident cases are caused by the negligence of the boat operator. A boat operator who is inattentive, uses poor judgment or is impaired by alcohol or drugs, is likely to cause a boating accident and injure innocent people. The boat operator’s negligence could cause the boat to collide with another vessel or a fixed object or passengers could be tossed from the boat into the water below.

Boating accidents can be serious and even lead to wrongful death. In 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard recorded a total of 633 boating fatalities throughout the nation.

Here’s a list of some negligent behaviors that are common causes of boating accidents:

• Operator inattention
• Operator inexperience and lack of training
• Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Improper lookout
• Speeding
• Operating a boat in poor weather
• Failing to follow federal or state navigation rules
• Ignoring safety rules
• Failing to maintain boat and equipment in a safe condition
• Failing to carry safety equipment on board
• Boat overcrowding or overloading

Many boating accident injuries can be avoided through the use of life jackets and the elimination of alcohol when operating a boat. Because boating is a recreational activity that takes place on the water and not on a highway, boat operators can be lax in following rules and regulations and might be inclined to indulge in alcohol while behind the wheel.

Massachusetts law prohibits anyone from operating any vessel while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance. Under state law, a person is considered to be boating under the influence, or BUI, if he or she has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater. This is the same standard for motorists.

If your boating injury was caused by a dangerous or defective boat or piece of equipment like a jet ski, water skis, tube, raft or wakeboard, a boating accident attorney can help you proceed with a product liability claim against the boat or equipment manufacturer. Product liability cases can be complicated. A seasoned attorney can take on deep pocketed manufacturers and maximize your chance of a successful outcome.

The Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has represented individuals who have suffered a wide range of injuries in boat accident cases. Regardless of the severity of your injury or its cause, our boat accident attorneys will fight for justice on your behalf and recover the compensation you deserve.

Some common types of boat accidents and their corresponding injuries include:

Passenger overboard incidents: Passengers who fall overboard are subject to injuries caused by impact from the water such as broken bones. The taller the boat, the greater the impact. In certain situations, the impact can cause an individual to become unconscious and at risk for drowning, especially if they’re not wearing a life jacket and water conditions are dangerous.

Propeller-related incidents: These accidents can occur when a passenger falls off or is tossed from a boat. Propeller accidents often result in serious injuries such as lacerations, amputations and death.

Run overs: Swimmers, water skiers or passengers who fall overboard are at risk of being run over by their own boat or another boat in the vicinity. Injuries include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spine injuries, paralysis and death.

Slip and falls: Boat owners and operators have a duty to keep their decks in a safe condition and free from slip-and-fall hazards.

If you’re a member of a boat crew who suffers an on-the-job injury, a boat accident attorney can advise on the steps to take to make yourself whole again.

If the boat or boating equipment is defective, a boating accident attorney can file a product liability suit against the manufacturer.

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident, it’s imperative that you speak with a boating accident lawyer as soon as possible. A skilled boating accident attorney will investigate your case and make sure that all negligent parties are brought to justice. An attorney will make sure that you meet all applicable deadlines and that your injuries and other damages are properly documented. An attorney will negotiate with any insurance companies involved in the case. Individuals who proceed with claims on their own tend to recover less than those who are represented by legal counsel. A good boating accident attorney should be a skilled negotiator who is unafraid to take on big insurance companies who are more concerned with their own bottom line than the health and well-being of accident victims.

Massachusetts is a paradise for boaters. In addition to the coastline, there’s Martha’s Vineyard, the Harbor Islands, Cape Cod and the Charles River to name a few. The vast number of waterways located throughout the state means that boating accidents are bound to happen.

A quick scan of news for the greater Boston area show these boating accidents:

• A large wave overturned a boat on a fishing trip, injuring one person and killing another.
• A 12-year-old was run over and killed by a boat while learning to water ski.
• A woman fell off a boat that was being operated by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. While being pulled back onto the vessel, she came into contact with the boat’s propeller and severed her arm at the shoulder.
• A high-speed boat, known as a cigarette boat, broke apart and flipped over in the water, injuring one person and killing another.

In Massachusetts, the operator of a vessel is required to submit a written report to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boating and Recreational Vehicle Safety Bureau whenever an accident results in:

• The death of a person.
• Disappearance of a person under circumstances that suggest any possibility of death or injury.
• Any injury requiring medical attention.
• Property damage exceeding $500.

Accidents resulting in death or serious injury must be reported within 48 hours. Other accident reports must be submitted within five days.

In addition to rules for reporting boating accidents, Massachusetts has numerous boating safety requirements that pertain to things like the mandatory age for boat operators, safety equipment required onboard and situations in which boat operation is prohibited. For example, it is against the law to operate a motorboat within 150 feet of a swimming area, to operate a motor boat without working lights or to operate a boat in an overloaded condition.

If your boating accident was caused by the boat operator’s failure to follow one of these safety requirements, the boat operator or boating company could be liable for your injuries.

You can read more about boating laws in Massachusetts on the state’s website.

To learn more about how our boating accident attorneys can help you with your boating accident claim, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 or use our online form.