Practice Area Type: Boat Accidents

When boat and watercraft operators, passengers and other parties are negligent, the injuries can be catastrophic. If you have been injured in a boating accident that could have been prevented, you may be able to file a claim for compensation.

The experienced boat accident attorneys at TSR Injury Law have a proven track record of obtaining fair compensation, with $300 million recovered over 20 plus years. Firm co-founder Steven Terry has been chosen as a Rising Star and Super Lawyer in Minnesota and is a member of the Top 100 National Trial Lawyer’s Association.

Schedule a free consultation with our attorneys to learn more about how we may be able to assist you. There is no obligation to hire our firm, and we do not get paid unless you do.

You can reach our firm 24/7, by phone (612) TSR-TIME or online contact form.

Do I Have a Valid Claim for Compensation?

Boat accidents resulting in serious injuries can happen numerous ways, including:

• Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding, particularly in dangerous conditions
• Poor maintenance of the vessel, including failure to repair known problems
• Failing to store safety gear on the boat (life jackets, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, etc.)
• Failing to pay attention when operating a boat, resulting in a collision with another vessel, fixed object or person in the water

Some accidents are caused by mechanical defects that result in fires or explosions. The defect could be because of a design flaw or a problem during the manufacturing process.

However, you not only need to prove someone else was careless, you need to provide evidence that directly links careless conduct to the accident. You must also show the accident directly caused you or your loved one to suffer an injury. Victims and their attorneys also must provide evidence of damages suffered (medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.)

This is a complex issue you can discuss with a St. Paul boat accident lawyer from TSR Injury Law.

Call today at (612) TSR-TIME.

Who Could be at Fault for My Boat Accident?

Boat operators are often the ones responsible for boating accidents. Sometimes more than one operator is at fault, particularly in a crash involving two or more vessels.

However, there could be other parties that hold liability for the accident, including:

• Manufacturers – Either the manufacturer of individual components on the boat, or of the boat itself, may be liable, if they are linked to the accident.
• Passengers on the boat – Sometimes other passengers are drunk or simply acting carelessly, and they can cause others on the boat to suffer injuries, such as slip and fall injuries or drowning because they fall overboard.
• Owner of the boat – The person operating the boat may have been borrowing it from someone else. If that individual lacks experience and this contributes to the crash, the owner may have some amount of liability. The owner may also have failed to properly maintain the boat to ensure its safe operation.
• Rental company – Did the boat company rent the vessel to a minor without a proper license? Did the rental company fail to maintain the boat? These are all questions your attorney may need to consider if the boat was rented at the time of your accident.

Our firm is available to answer your legal questions after a boat accident.

Can I Still Pursue Compensation if I am Partially at Fault?

The answer is yes, but it depends on your percentage of fault. If you hold more fault than another party, state law prohibits you from pursuing compensation from that individual. You can pursue compensation from any parties that hold less fault than you.

If you recover compensation, that total amount will be reduced based on your percentage of fault for the accident. That means an award of $30,000 would become $27,000 if you were 10 percent at fault.

Our Saint Paul boat accident attorneys can answer your questions about Minnesota’s comparative fault law.

What is a Boat Accident Case Worth?

There are many factors that go into determining the value of a case, from the type of injury and its severity to the length of your recovery.

Some of the damages your attorney may be able to pursue include:

The damages that may be available depend on the specific details of your case, which you can discuss with a licensed attorney from our firm. The consultation is free of charge.

What is the Deadline for Taking Legal Action?

The deadline for Minnesota personal injury claims is usually two years from the date of the accident that caused the injury and resulting damages. This is set by Minnesota’s statute of limitations.

If your loved one died in the accident, you have three years from the date of death to file a claim for compensation.

There are certain exceptions to this deadline. For example, there is a different deadline for claims filed by minors and another deadline for claims filed against government entities.

Unsure of how much time you have left to take legal action? Call a St. Paul boat accident attorney to discuss your situation. No upfront fees. (612) TSR-TIME

Steps to Take After a Boating Accident

The most important step after an accident is to get medical treatment. You need qualified medical professionals to diagnose your injuries, stabilize them and begin appropriate treatment.

Seeking medical care usually begins with calling 9-1-1 at the scene. This is particularly important if your life or someone else’s could be in danger.

Minnesota law requires you to stay at the scene to help others who are in trouble, provided you can do so safely. You should never risk your life or someone else’s to try to save equipment or personal items.

Another important priority in a boat accident, after ensuring your health and safety, is gathering information at the scene, including:

This information can help you to begin building a case against the at-fault party. Talking to witnesses is particularly important, as they may have seen things you did not. You should also take pictures of the scene, if possible.

Under state law, you are required to report a boat accident to the county sheriff if there is an injury, death or more than $2,000 in property damage.

How a Boat Accident Attorney May be Able to Assist You

Insurance companies often become involved soon after an accident occurs. They are looking out for their best interest, which is making money and paying out the least possible amount of compensation to accident victims.

Victims are often unaware of the tricks and other tactics insurers may use to discredit victims and reduce the value of their claims. Adjusters may even discourage victims from contacting lawyers, claiming it will cost too much money and drag the process out.

The attorneys at TSR Injury Law are experienced at protecting claims from insurance companies. We charge no upfront fees, and we do not get paid unless you do. The initial consultation is also free of charge.

We are prepared to manage the entire process on your behalf, if you have a valid case. This includes investigating the accident, evaluating damages, reviewing medical records, negotiating for fair compensation and preparing for trial if necessary.

Claims handled by experienced attorneys often result in more compensation for victims.

Common Examples of Boating Accidents

Boat accidents can happen during many activities on the water, from swimming and kayaking to jet skiing and wake boarding.

If you were injured on the water in an accident involving some type of watercraft, you may have grounds for pursuing compensation. Treating your injuries can be very expensive, particularly if the injury requires a long period of medical care.

Some of the injuries from boating accidents may include:

Call a Saint Paul Boat Accident Lawyer to Discuss Your Accident

Talking to an experienced attorney is an important step to take after suffering an injury in a boating accident. The attorneys at TSR Injury Law know how to determine if your accident may have been caused by negligence. We are also prepared to pursue maximum compensation for your damages.

The consultation with our lawyers is free and comes with no obligation. There are also no upfront fees for our services, so there is no risk to you in contacting us.

Our partners have received numerous awards and accolades. Rich Ruohonen has been selected to Super Lawyers each year from 2003 to 2018. Partner Chuck Slane is on the Minnesota Association for Justice’s Board of Governors.

TSR Injury Law: (612) TSR-TIME. We are here to help and answer your questions.

Injuries sustained from boating accidents can be life changing not only for the victim, but also for families, dependents and the at-fault party. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are a result of negligence and could have been prevented. If negligence played a part in your boat accident, you may be eligible to file a damages lawsuit.

At TSR Injury Law, we have decades of experience representing Minnesota injury victims. Our co-founder and managing partner Steve Terry is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice’s Board of Governors and served as president of the organization from August 2014 to August 2015.

Contact our Minneapolis boat accident lawyers today for a free review of your damages claim. If you have a case and wish to move forward, there are no upfront attorney’s fees and we only get paid if we are successful obtaining compensation for your case.

Call today at (612) TSR-TIME. We are available 24/7.

Am I Eligible to File a Case?

If your lawyer can determine the four elements of negligence may have been involved in your boating accident, you may have a case. The four elements of negligence include:

• Duty of care – The at-fault party had a legal duty to act in a reasonable manner to prevent harm to others.
• Breach of duty of care – The at-fault party failed to uphold his or her duty to act in a reasonable manner.
• Causation –As a result of the breach of duty, the at-fault party’s actions caused you to suffer an injury.
• Damages – The injury you suffered from the at-fault party’s actions or failure to act resulted to damages, such as medical expenses.

These four elements can be present in a number of different kinds of boating accidents, including accidents caused by the following:

To help determine if you have a valid case, the Minneapolis boat accident lawyers from TSR Injury Law can review the merits of your claim and help to determine if there is a legal solution available.

Deadlines for Filing a Boat Accident Claim in Minnesota

In Minnesota, injury victims may be eligible to pursue compensation up to two years from the date of the accident (Minnesota Statutes §541.07(1)). Missing this deadline may affect your ability to pursue compensation.

However, as each case is unique, there may be some exceptions to this rule. An attorney can help to investigate the specifics of your incident  to determine how much time he or she may have to file a claim on your behalf.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form to schedule your free consultation.

What is the Value of My Case?

Each case is different. You can learn a lot more about the value of your claim by contacting an experienced Minneapolis boat accident lawyer.

If we find you have a valid case, we may be able to pursue many different forms of compensation, including, but not limited to:

Speak to qualified lawyer from our firm today to learn more about how we may be able to help you.

How Can a Boat Accident Lawyer Help?

Injury cases that are handled by a plaintiff personal injury lawyer produce more financial compensation compared to those that do not involve an attorney. At TSR Injury Law, our lawyers have a proven track record of helping injury victims obtain the compensation needed to cover costly damages and move forward with their lives.

Our experienced Minneapolis boat accident lawyers are prepared to handle each aspect of the complex legal process on your behalf. We can initiate an investigation, collect evidence to support your claim and handle all legal paperwork. We can also handle settlement negotiations on your behalf and be prepared to go to court to obtain fair compensation if necessary.

If we determine that you have a case, we are ready to apply our skills and knowledge to your potential case.

Who May be Liable for My Boating Accident?

Various people could be responsible in boating accidents, depending on what caused the accident. For example, in a collision involving two motorboats, both boat operators may hold partial fault. In accidents involving sailboats and motorboats, the motorboat operator is more likely to be held liable because of the power and speed advantage from having a motor.

Some of the parties that could potentially be held responsible after a boat accident include:

• The boat owner – For example, if the boat owner knowingly loans the boat to an inexperienced operator, he or she can be held liable.
• The boat manufacturer – If defective equipment caused the accident, fault may fall on the boat’s manufacturer. For example – if a passenger falls off of the back of a jet ski due to the lack of back support, they may fall into the path of the Jet Ski’s jet wash. This may lead to life threatening injuries.
• The boat rental company – The company can be held liable for renting out to minors or for not properly maintaining the vessel.
• The boat passengers – If the passengers’ reckless behavior prevents the operator from safely operating the boat or one passenger causes injury or to another, the passenger may be found at fault.

Partial Fault for a Boating Accident

When the victim is partially to blame for an accident, he or she may still be able to collect compensation from other involved parties if he or she can prove negligence. However, you cannot pursue compensation from anyone who is less at fault for the accident than you (Minnesota Statutes 604.01).

This law is one of the many reasons you may like to strongly consider meeting with a licensed attorney to discuss your claim. A Minneapolis boat accident lawyer from our firm can review the details of your situation and help you determine who may be liable for your injuries and if you may be able to pursue compensation.

Contact us today to discuss your claim by filling out this Free Case Evaluation form.

Types of Boating Accidents

Some common water activities in which a boating accident can occur include:

When an accident occurs, it can cause serious and potentially permanent injuries, such as:

Speak to a licensed lawyer today. We are here to help.

What to Do After a Boating Accident

The state of Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources suggests taking the steps below after an accident:

Accidents involving injured people, fatalities or property damage of $2,000 or more must be reported to the county sheriff. They will investigate and file a report on the accident. Be sure to ask for a copy of the report to use as evidence for your potential boat accident claim.

Contact a Minneapolis Boat Accident Lawyer for Assistance Today

Discussing a claim with an experienced lawyer can help victims to make a more-informed decision regarding their pursuit of a damages lawsuit.

Schedule your free consultation with a licensed lawyer from our firm today. If you have a case, we may be able to pursue compensation. There are no upfront costs or attorney’s fees. We only get paid if we obtain favorable compensation for your claim.

Visit us at our office at 7760 France Ave. South #820. We are just a five-minute drive from Centennial Lakes Park, or call us to set up an appointment for your free consultation.

Call us right now at (612) TSR-TIME or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form.

Injuries from boating accidents can result in significant medical expenses, lost wages and long recovery times. If you are a boating accident victim, you may benefit from talking to a Bloomington boat accident lawyer about pursuing compensation for your injuries.

At TSR Injury Law, our attorneys are well-versed in Minnesota’s boating and personal injury laws and have a proven track record of obtaining fair compensation for injury victims. Our firm co-founder Steven Terry has been selected for Super Lawyers and is a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100.

Your initial consultation with our attorneys is free. If we represent you, there are no upfront attorney fees. Nothing will be charged to you at all unless we are successful in winning a court verdict or settlement on your behalf.

Call us today at (612) TSR-TIME to learn more about how we may be able to help.

Can I Pursue Compensation for My Boat Accident Injuries?

If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence while kayaking, canoeing, driving a jet ski, riding as a passenger on a boat or operating some other watercraft, you may be eligible to pursue damages for your injuries.

However, it can be difficult to determine the exact value of your potential lawsuit without thoroughly investigating all of the details of the incident.

If your case does have merit, you may be eligible for compensatory damages for your: