Boat Accident Attorney in Bowling Green

Boating accidents can result from the negligent operation or maintenance of a vessel. Our Bowling Green attorneys handle boating cases stemming from another’s negligence in:

• Failing to pay attention to surrounding watercraft and individuals
• Causing collisions with other boats or fixed objects
• Hitting a big wave or wake at an excessive speed
• Making contact with propellers
• Navigate in bad weather
• Operating the boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Overcrowding and/or overloading a vessel
• Failing to carry safety equipment on board
• Failing to know and follow the “rules of the road”

Traditionally, on-the-job injuries are covered under an employer’s workers’ compensation benefits; however, maritime laborers are not covered by onshore workers’ compensation regulations. To protect maritime workers, special laws, including the Jones Act, have been enacted to assist an employee's recovery of compensation for work-related injuries.

The Jones Act was passed to give maritime laborers their own version of worker’s compensation insurance. It provides workers the right to recover money immediately following an injury, regardless of fault. Under the Jones Act, employers are required to compensate their injured workers for medical care related to the injury and provide a daily stipend during recovery. The Jones Act also creates the right for an injured offshore worker to pursue additional compensation through a negligence claim against their employer.

Workers are entitled to a safe working environment on a maritime vessel. If these requirements are disregarded or neglected and an injury occurs, the wounded party may be able to bring a lawsuit against their employer and/or the vessel’s owner. If a third party contributed to the injury, the injured party may not be able to file a claim under the Jones Act; however, victims may be able to sue a third party responsible for their injuries. An experienced Bowling Green maritime attorney will be able to help determine which claims you are eligible to file, against whom these claims can be filed, and the amount and type of compensation you may be owed.

Whether you were injured on the job or during a recreational boating outing on one of the several lakes around Bowling Green, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident for evidence of another’s negligence. Once your attorney completes the investigation, they will create a claim that best supports your pursuit of compensation.

Your attorney will use this claim as leverage in negotiations, as a foundation in filing a formal lawsuit, and at trial as evidence in support of your case. Maritime and boat accident lawsuits can be complicated and must be handled properly; retaining an experienced Bowling Green attorney as soon as possible after an accident can help simplify the process of pursuing and successfully collecting compensation for your losses.

Each boating accident or maritime injury case is different. The type and amount of damages you may receive will depend on the nature, location, and cause of the accident; the type of boat(s) or vessel(s) involved; the severity of the injury sustained; and whether you contributed to the accident.

If your case is successful, compensation may be available for medical bills and expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of intimacy, pain and suffering, and funeral costs. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, we can assist you.

To contact our Bowling Green attorneys to learn more about your available options, please complete our free case evaluation form today.