The aftermath of a boating accident, barge accident or Jet Ski collision can be devastating. People often get injured when boats or personal watercraft collide or flip over and some people even drown or are fatally injured.
If you or your loved one has been seriously injured or killed in any type of maritime accident – cruise ship, barge, riverboat, shop, town boat, fishing boats, speedboats or other pleasure boats as well as a Jet Ski or other personal watercraft – you probably have many questions about who will bear responsibility for the accident and pay for damages.
Our Pittsburgh boating accident lawyers can help. We provide free consultations and do not collect a fee unless we win money for you.
If you feel that the accident was caused by someone not following boating rules or regulations while on a body of water, or if someone was negligent, reckless or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident, you have a right to seek damages for medical costs, lost wages and other damages.
If you have suffered an on-the-job boating accident, whether as a deckhand or a barge operator, you may be eligible to recover damages through your employer or their workers compensation insurance, as the accident was a work-site injury. Unsafe conditions, faulty equipment or negligent workers/employers may be to blame and they should be held responsible for your injuries.
If you were injured as a passenger on a boat or a cruise due to a slip-and-fall, you may also be eligible to recover damages.
There may be various types of compensation available to boat accident victims in Pittsburgh. At SMT Legal, our team works diligently to recover total compensation on behalf of our clients. This includes both economic and non-economic compensation. Our goal is to make sure you receive coverage for the following:
The total amount of compensation available in these situations will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. For relatively minor injuries, the compensation may only be a few thousand dollars. However, because both accidents often result in such severe injuries for those involved, it is not uncommon for these settlements or jury verdicts to reach into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Victims of boat accidents in Pittsburgh need to be aware that they have a limited amount of time to file a claim. First, the Pennsylvania personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date an injury occurs. If a boat accident victim fails to file a lawsuit within this two-year timeframe, they will lose the ability to recover any compensation for their losses.
However, it is important to point out that insurance carriers involved in these situations have their own strict reporting deadlines. In general, if there is an insurance carrier involved, a boat accident claim needs to be reported within a day or two after the incident occurs. Failing to do so could result in the claim being delayed or denied.
We strongly recommend that you work with a skilled boat accident attorney in Pittsburgh who can analyze the facts of your case and help you get the lawsuit filed on time, regardless of the situation.
Under Title 30, Chapter 55 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly it states, “Every owner of a watercraft causing or knowingly permitting any person to operate the watercraft in, upon or through the waters of this Commonwealth, and any person who leases or furnishes a watercraft to any other person, shall be jointly and severally liable with the other person for damages arising out of any act or occurrence in the operation of the watercraft.”
Our boating accident lawyers will fight the insurance companies aggressively in order to get you the best possible result. We know when to negotiate, when to go to court and how to get you money for your injuries. We will try to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
After a serious boating accident, we will help you recover compensation for:
The attorneys at SMT Legal are experienced and aggressive boating accident lawyers who can help answer your questions and help you determine if you should bring legal action against those who may be responsible.
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