Pennsylvania Boating Accident Lawyers

Injured in a Boating Accident? We Can Help.

Being involved in a boating accident is a traumatic and devastating experience. Every year, boating accidents throughout the United States cause serious injuries, property damage, and, in the most tragic of cases, untimely death. When an accident like this affects your life, it is crucial that you get the help of an experienced legal team so that you can seek rightful compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other financial, physical, and emotional losses.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries due to a boating accident caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, contact the Pennsylvania boating accident lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC right away. With offices throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, we are ready to help anyone who has been injured in this type of accident. At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we are committed to securing the results you need to heal and get back on your feet—in our 20+ years in practice, we have successfully secured more than $110 million for our clients.

If you were injured in a boating accident, contact us now at (877) 989-4878 to learn how we can help during a free and confidential consultation.

How Common Are Boating Accidents in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania typically ranks among the top U.S. states when it comes to boating-related injuries and deaths. According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 96 vessels were reported to be involved in 69 accidents in 2017 alone. This led to 51 injuries requiring medical treatment, nine more than there were in 2016. Recreational boating accidents also resulted in 14 fatalities in the Keystone State that same year. These accidents resulted in $250,230 in property damage, also an increase from 2016.

However, these numbers only represent the number of reported boating accidents. There is a loophole in which accidents aren’t reported. Federal and state law requires that boating accidents involving death, disappearance, injuries requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, and property damage exceeding $2,000 be reported to the state. Accidents with minor property damage and/or minor injuries are not required to be reported. This means that there are likely a great deal more boating accidents resulting in injuries than these numbers reveal.

Common Boating Accident Injuries

Careless drivers and negligent actions are not limited to automobiles and trucks on the highways and roads throughout Pennsylvania. Negligent boating is also extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries and fatalities.

Common boating accident injuries that occur in many of the state’s bodies of water may include but are not limited to:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Head, neck, or back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Cuts or lacerations
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Drowning accidents

Accident victims who have sustained any of these injuries may need to go to the emergency room, stay in the hospital, undergo surgery, receive treatments and therapies, and/or take costly medications. All of this can quickly add up, placing victims and their loved ones under immense financial strain.

How Our Pennsylvania Boating Accident Attorneys Can Help

After a boating accident, you or a loved one may face mounting medical bills, extensive property damage, and lost income as you are forced to take time off to recuperate in the aftermath of the incident. A personal injury claim may help your family recover the compensation you need to move forward.

In order to bring a successful personal injury claim, you will need to prove that the boating accident you were in was caused by someone else’s negligent and reckless actions.

There are numerous examples of negligent and reckless boating behaviors, all of which can and frequently do lead to accidents. Examples include:

• Distraction or inattention
• Improper lookout
• Inexperience
• Excessive speed
• Alcohol use
• Navigational rules violations
• Defective boat parts or safety equipment

If you can prove that the person/party who caused the accident was negligent, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your damages. However, your attorney must also be able to prove that you were acting carefully and were not doing anything irresponsible or negligent at the time of the accident. Often, the at-fault party or their insurance provider will attempt to prove that the victim was being negligent in an effort to devalue or deny a claim. While you are not barred from recovering compensation if you were partly at fault for an accident in Pennsylvania (as long as you were less at fault than the other person/party), your total recovery could be reduced if you are determined to have played any role in the accident.

Fortunately, our boat accident attorneys are adept at proving negligence in these types of cases. We know what to look for and how to investigate complex boating accident claims in order to support the facts of the case and prove the extent of your injuries.

Contact our Pennsylvania Boat Accident Lawyers Today

At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we have successfully litigated numerous boating accident cases in which these types of accidents have tragically affected the life of a victim and/or the victim’s loved ones. We understand how complex these accidents can be and are prepared to fight your claim both inside and outside the courtroom. We are committed to making sure your voice is heard and that justice is served.

In Pennsylvania, you only have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim (in most cases). Time is of the essence; don’t hesitate to contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation right away. We have offices located in Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton and serve clients throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and beyond.

Contact our boating accident lawyers now for a free consultation; call (877) 989-4878 or submit an online contact form.