Boat & PWC Accidents

Boat & Watercraft Attorneys | Joplin MO | Columbia MO

Have you been injured in a boating accident?

Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of boat and watercraft injuries on Missouri waterways, including the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Mark Twain Lake and even on the Missouri River. Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators have a responsibility under Missouri law to safely operate their vessel, so if you are a victim of a PWC accident, then you may be able to file a claim or lawsuit to recover compensation for the injuries you sustained. This includes compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and even a decrease in quality of life.

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Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle Your Accident Claim

After getting proper medical care, it is imperative you find a qualified personal injury lawyer with specific experience in boat and PWC lawsuits. Our attorneys at Sticklen & Sticklen have over 30 years of experience in representing people who have been involved in boating accidents. As avid boaters ourselves, we are concerned about water safety and have seen firsthand what can happen when reckless or inexperienced boaters take to the water. We have experience in handling accident cases and have won large settlements for our clients, including a $14 million verdict against a boating manufacturer due to defective design.

PWC injuries can be far more severe than those sustained in commercial boating accidents due to the exposed nature of the occupants. Parties responsible for injuries may include other watercraft operators, the PWC manufacturer or even the boat rental company who rented the operator their watercraft.

While the laws applicable to boating and PWC accidents vary by state, failing to file a claim within the statute of limitations for personal injuries may leave you unable to recover compensation for your injuries. Therefore, if you have been injured in a boating or PWC accident, it is important you contact one of our attorneys immediately.

About Boat & Watercraft Injuries

In 2016, the Coast Guard reported 4,463 recreational boating accidents, 701 recreational boating deaths, 2,903 recreational boating injuries and about $49 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. In the case of a fatality, usually the vehicle’s operator did not receive proper safety training. Operator inattention, inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and machinery failure rank as the top five contributing factors in recreational boating accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating or watercraft accident, call the highly skilled attorneys in personal injury law at Sticklen & Sticklen.

Types of Boating Accident Claims Handled by Our Firm

  • Defective boat repair
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Defective design of the watercraft
  • Wake board, skiing, and tubing accidents
  • Operator intoxication
  • Operating at a high rate of speed
  • Contact with propellers
  • Hitting a wake at an excessive speed
  • Collision with another watercraft or fixed objects