Boating Accidents Lawyers

Wilkes-Barre, Sugarloaf and Hazleton, Pennsylvania

What makes boating accidents different than other vehicle accidents is that water, in addition to high speeds, is involved. Our boating accident lawyers at The Falvello Law Firm in the Berwick area of Pennsylvania are experienced in handling the added issues that water brings to the legal picture.

Reasons Boating Accidents Occur

Even though boating is great fun, things can go tragically wrong if certain conditions occur such as:

• Boat driver inattention
• Boat operator inexperience
• Careless or negligent boat operation
• Driving a boat at inappropriate speeds
• Not having a person assigned as a lookout

Boating accidents cases can involve that following:

• Boat capsizing
• Boat running aground
• Boating under the influence (BUI) of drugs or alcohol
• Capsizing
• Collisions with docks (or other stationary objects) or other vessels
• Defective products such as the boat itself or its steering mechanism
• Ejection of passengers from boats
• Jet Skis or other personal watercraft vehicles
• No life jackets (personal flotation devices)
• Overcrowding of passengers on a boat
• Racing, speeding, or otherwise violating the boating laws of Pennsylvania
• Reckless boat driving or other reckless actions
• Recreational boating accidents
• Slips and falls on boats or docks
• Waterskiing
• WaveRunners

Boating Accident Injuries

Due to high speeds as well as water being involved, boating accidents can be extremely serious leading to catastrophic injuries such as:

• Back injuries
• Burn injuries
• Head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Paralysis
• Permanent disabilities
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death

The Jones Act

People who are injured in boating accidents in and around the water who meet the legal definition of a seaman may be protected by the Jones Act. This act offers seamen special protections in their work by giving them an easier method of recovering damages.

Maritime Law

Maritime law is a special set of laws that covers any business that employs or transports people or goods near or over the navigable water.

If boating accidents involve either seamen or companies operating on navigable waters, then The Jones Act or maritime law may apply. You need to discuss your individual case with an experienced boating accident lawyers such as one from The Falvello Law Firm to determine which laws apply to your case.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident, please email us at The Falvello Law firm in the Bloomsburg area of Pennsylvania. We have the experience and expertise to help you with your case, and we offer a free initial consultation so that you can discuss your case with one of our lawyers to help you determine if you have a claim. The Falvello Law Firm serves clients in Hazleton, Sugarloaf, Wilkes-Barre, Berwick, and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.