Our St. Louis boat accident lawyer has decades of experience in both the courtroom and the waterways. If you were hurt while boating, jet skiing, tubing, or engaging in watersports, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial costs and emotional distress. Our experienced boating accident attorneys can help maximize your financial recovery.
Since 2002, we’ve been helping injury victims stand up to tough insurance companies in cases involving, boating accidents, brain injuries, medical malpractice cases in St. Louis, wrongful death claims, St. Louis bus accidents, and more.
Our attorneys have single-handedly won tens of millions of dollars in financial awards – including some of the largest verdicts in Missouri state history.
Put yourself in the best position to win your case. Contact our boating accident attorneys today to get started. Your first case evaluation is free, so contact us now at (314) 400-0000.
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How Bradley Law’s St. Louis Boat Accident Lawyer Can Help
Boating accidents can cause severe injuries and be traumatizing. If someone else caused an accident on the water, then they should be held accountable. And while you may be legally entitled to compensation, actually getting money in your hands can be a challenge. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Louis is the best move you can make.
At our firm, we’re led by a former insurance defense attorney. We understand how insurance companies operate – because our founding attorney used to work for them. This insight benefits our clients every day and helps us win life-changing settlements and verdicts.
When you trust us after your boating accident, we will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your water-related accident
- Determine why it happened and who’s at fault
- Gather evidence to support your case for damages
- Seek compensation from all liable parties
- Work closely with maritime experts as we build and value your case
- Handle all negotiations with insurance companies and other parties
- Defend you against “blame the victim” strategies that can hurt your chances of a full recovery
If you aren’t offered a fair settlement deal, then our award-winning trial attorneys will be ready to bring your case to a jury.
Give us a call or reach out to us online to get started. We offer a free consultation and are standing by to help you out today.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Missouri?
According to the United States Coast Guard, there were a total of 152 boating accidents in the state of Missouri in 2020. The destruction and consequences of those accidents cost more than $1.3 Million in damages.
There were:
- 13 fatal boating accidents
- 72 boating accidents that caused injuries, and
- 67 boat accidents resulting in damage to property.
At least 100 people were injured, and another 14 were killed in Missouri boating accidents in 2020.
St. Louis and Madison County have many of the state’s most popular boating and water recreation spots, including:
- Lake of the Ozarks.
- Frank Holten State Recreation Area in East St. Louis
- Horseshoe Lake State Park
- Castlewood State Park
- Peabody River State Fish and Wildlife Area
As a result, it’s no surprise that many of Missouri’s boat accidents occur in the state.
We Handle All Types of Boating Accidents
There’s no shortage of water or water-related activities in and around St. Louis. And whether you’re involved in a recreational boating accident or are injured while working on a commercial rig, Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you every step of the way.
Our injury attorneys represent clients who have suffered injuries in all types of watercraft accidents, including:
- Jetski accidents
- Kayak accidents
- Canoe accidents
- Riverboat accidents
- Duck boat accidents
- Sailing accidents
- Speedboat accidents
- Rental boat accidents
- Fishing boat accidents
- Commercial boating accidents
- Gasoline vapor ignitions
What is My Boat Accident Case Worth?
Value Driver #1: The Evidence
The value of your boating accident case will depend on a variety of factors, such as:
- Your injuries
- Your ability to work and earn an income
- The psychological impact of your accident
- Whether you’re faced with a permanent impairment or disability
- What will it cost to replace or repair damaged property
- Whether you share any responsibility for your accident
- The steps you took to mitigate your injuries
The more serious your injuries, the more your case will probably be worth. However, there are exceptions to this general rule of thumb. Any injury can potentially have catastrophic, costly consequences.
It’s important to speak with our attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri. We’ll consider the facts of your case, assess available evidence, and give you a better idea of how much money your case might be worth.
Value Driver #2: The St. Louis Boat Accident Lawyer You Hire
What lawyer you hire to represent you is just as important as the evidence. That is because the lawyer is in charge of ensuring that all evidence is secured, analyzed and all potential causes of action are investigated. You want to ensure the lawyer you hire is intimately familiar with boating. Ryan Bradley, the owner of Bradley Law, has decades of experience handling complex personal injury claims. Outside of work, Ryan owns several boats and has captained vesssels from New York to Florida, to the Caribbean as well as in domestic waters.
What Damages Can I Get If I’m Hurt in a Boating Accident?
Compensatory damages may be available following an accident on the Missouri River, the Meramec River, or another body of water near St. Louis.
Compensatory damages fall into one of two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages make up for the financial losses of your accident on Missouri waterways, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket costs
- Funeral expenses after a fatal boating accident
Non-economic damages make up for the consequences of an accident that aren’t easily valued in dollars and cents, like:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement
In rare cases, punitive damages may also be available to you. Insurance companies will not be quick to point out your losses – so it’s important to work with an attorney who will advocate that you’re awarded in full for all of your damages.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents?
Leading causes of boating accidents include:
- Running out of gas
- Running aground
- Inexperienced boating operators
- Speeding
- Capsizing
- Vessel malfunction or defect
- Catching fire
- Not paying attention to other vessels, boat traffic, and surroundings
- Operating a boat while under the influence of drugs and alcohol
- Limited visibility
- Crowded waterways
- Poor weather conditions
Why is it important to understand what caused your boating accident? Knowing why it happened is the first step toward understanding who’s to blame.
Who Can Be Liable For a Boat Accident?
Under Missouri state law, anyone who contributes to these types of accidents can be and will be held liable for the resulting harm.
After a thorough investigation, our St. Louis boat accident attorneys might determine that one or more of the following parties are at fault:
- Negligent boating operators
- Boat owners
- Boat crew members
- Boat rental companies
- Boat manufacturers
- Employers
- Boat passengers
- Property owners
- Government agencies
Our boat accident attorneys will aggressively seek compensation from anyone who directly or indirectly caused you to get hurt.
How Will Sharing Blame For a Boat Accident Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?
Liability can also extend to boat accident victims. Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault rule, sharing the blame for your boating accident can affect your ability to recover compensation. If you’re assigned blame, your damages will be reduced. You’ll also be on the hook for a percentage of the damages sustained by other victims in the boat collision.
Let’s say you’re 30 percent at fault. Your financial award will be reduced by 30 percent. That could mean getting a check for $70,000 when your case is valued at $100,000.
Other parties will try to blame you. Don’t let them push more of the blame your way than is appropriate. Their claims will often be based on nothing but the hope that you don’t fight back. If that happens, you’ll watch your ability to recover compensation disappear.
How Long Do I Have to File a Boat Accident Lawsuit in Missouri?
The statute of limitations for most boat accident lawsuits in Missouri is five years. You’ll have three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit if a family member is unexpectedly killed in an accident on the water.
While there are some situations where a different timeframe will apply, these are the exceptions rather than the rule.
Missing the deadline that applies to your case will mean giving up the right to sue and recover compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a St. Louis Boating Accident Lawyer
Were you or a family member recently involved in a boating accident in St. Louis, Missouri? Call Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate legal assistance. Whether you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, amputation, or another catastrophic injury, our St. Louis boating accident lawyers are here to fight to get you full compensation.
Our law firm offers a free, no-obligation consultation. And we work on a contingency fee basis, which means there’s no cost to you unless we win your case.
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Areas We Serve in St. Louis
Central West End, Soulard, Lafayette Square, Downtown, The Hill, Benton Park, Old North, Tower Grove South, Shaw, St. Louis Hills, Skinker DeBaliviere, The Ville, Compton Heights, Forest Park Southeast, Carondelet, Lindenwood Park, Southwest Garden, Tower Grove East, Grand Center, Jeff-Vander-Lou, Hi-Pointe, Franz Park, St. Louis Place, Downtown West, Bevo Mill, Gravois Park, Benton Park West, Botanical Heights, DeBaliviere Place, Clayton-Tamm, Princeton Heights, McKinley Heights, The Gate District, Greater Ville, Holly Hills, Northampton, Wydown Skinker, Ellendale, Clifton Heights, The Southampton, Marine Villa, Walnut Park East, Walnut Park West, Wells-Goodfellow, Kings Oak, Carr Square, North Riverfront, LaSalle Park, Fox Park
