Boat Accidents and Injuries

Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A. - Attorneys at Law

Certified by the Florida Bar - Admirality & Maritime Law

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Boat Accidents and Injuries - An Overview

The Jones Act

Maritime Law

Frequently Asked Questions about Boat Accidents and Injuries

Boat Accidents and Injuries Resource Links

Boat Accidents and Injuries Contact Form

Boat Accidents and Injuries - An Overview

According to the United States Coast Guard, in the past decade, there has been an increase in registered boats and personal watercraft (PWC) in the United States. In particular, the use of personal watercraft, such as Jet-Skis and other brands, has exploded since the 1990s. Not surprisingly, the United States Coast Guard also reports that each year there has been an increase in boating accidents that have resulted in serious injuries and sometimes death. If you have been injured on a boat, while boating or while engaged in other water sport activities, contact an attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Federal Maritime Law or State Law

Generally, the legal issues associated with boating injuries are similar to other personal injury claims issues such as questions related to negligence, causation and damages. But before those questions can be answered, it must first be determined which law will control the case - federal maritime law or state tort law. The differences between federal maritime law and state tort law are significant and may impact the outcome of the case. An attorney who regularly handles boating injury cases has the experience to sort through the complex legal issues and help you achieve a fair outcome based on the facts of your case.

Rights of a Person Injured on or by a Watercraft

The potential claims of a person injured by a watercraft are determined by the injured person’s category: seaman, social guest, business visitor or bystander/swimmer/water skier. The category also determines the legal rules that will be applied to your claim.

Product Liability Claims - Personal Watercraft Such as Jet Skis

Although the majority of boating accidents occur due to the boat operator's negligence or recklessness, some boating accidents are caused by a defect of the boat itself. When an injury is caused by a defective or dangerous condition of the boat, the injured person may have a product liability case against the manufacturer of the boat. These claims allege that a manufacturer’s design defect makes the watercraft unreasonably dangerous when used in a "foreseeable manner."

Conclusion

When a water-related accident occurs, you need a thorough investigation and evaluation of its cause(s) by an experienced maritime law attorney. Complex legal and safety issues may be involved. If you have been injured on a boat, while boating or while engaged in other water sport activities, contact an attorney in your area who has experience handling boat accident and injury claims.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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Contact our attorney today if you have any further questions and we will speak to you for no charge. From law offices near Pensacola, Florida, John Merting represents clients nationwide and throughout the world who have been injured at sea. Our Pensacola area law firm serves mariners throughout the Gulf Coast in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

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Harbourtown - Suite 39, 913 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 T: (850) 916-9645

Located in Gulf Breeze, Florida, the Law Offices of John W. Merting, P.A. is a Pensacola-area law firm representing clients in Fort Walton, Destin, Panama City and throughout the Florida Panhandle. The firm represents mariners, longshoremen, and those injured on navigable waters or at international ports along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Alaska, and the rivers and inland waters of the United States, including the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as nationwide and worldwide.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

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