Minnesota Boat Accident Lawyer & Attorney

As the ‘land of 10,000 lakes,’ Minnesota is well-known for its fishing and water sports. Many Minnesotans have a cabin on a lake or visit a lake at some point each year. Not surprising, the DNR reports that Minnesota has the most boats per capita in the nation.

BOATING ACCIDENT INJURIES OCCUR IN MINNESOTA EVERY YEAR

Fishing and boating are favorite activities for many Minnesotans. However, sometimes the unexpected occurs. The U.S. Coast Guard counted 4,604 boating accidents in one year. Sadly, these boat accident cases involved 672 deaths, 3,153 injuries and approximately $35.5 million dollars of damage. Perhaps the most frightening statistic is that almost 75% of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those, 88 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Our boat accident lawyers have represented people injured in a boat accident in MN for the last 25 years.

INJURED IN A BOAT ACCIDENT INVOLVING ALCOHOL

The number one cause of a boat accident is driver inattention. However, the number one cause of death in a boating accident is alcohol use. Studies have shown that an intoxicated boater is ten times more susceptible to being hurt or killed in a boating accident. Likewise, passengers in a boat are far more at risk if the driver is intoxicated. Of course, a boat passenger is also more likely to be killed or injured if they themselves are intoxicated. You should never drive a boat if you have been drinking. And if the driver of the boat you are in may be drunk, get back to shore!

SAFETY RULES FOR BOATS

There are safety rules for driving a boat on a lake or river, just like there are for cars. For example, there are speed limits, direction of boating traffic and right-of-way rules. Unlike motor vehicle laws, however, Minnesota does not require a driver to pass a test to operate watercraft. In fact, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that 94 percent of the watercraft operators involved in boating-related deaths did NOT have boating instruction. Our MN boat accident attorneys strongly urge people to get boating instruction and practice with an experienced operator before taking a boat out on their own.

Unfortunately, no matter how experienced and safe YOU are, you cannot control how the other boats on the lake behave. A boat operator driving their boat while drunk or with too little instruction or experience puts everyone at risk. A boat accident lawyer in our office was involved in a case where a boat ran into a water skier. Unfortunately, there was simply nothing the skier or the driver pulling him could have done. Our lawyers also handled a case where our client was fishing with his boat anchored when another boat just smashed right into him, destroying our client’s boat and injuring our client.

LAWYER FOR BOAT ACCIDENT INJURY IN MINNESOTA

If you are injured in a boating accident, call us to speak with a lawyer for a free consultation. Many times, conducting an early investigation and getting witness statements can be crucial to your case. Hopefully, the DNR will do a proper investigation and at least get the names of witnesses, but you can never be sure. If possible, you should take many photographs and get the names and contact information for all witnesses to the boat accident. Our boat accident attorney will follow-up for you.

The Rochlin Law Firm, Ltd. has successfully represented people injured in boat crashes and other watercraft related cases for more than 25 years. Pam Rochlin and David Rochlin are personal injury attorneys. We have handled hundreds of accident cases throughout MN. Pam is a former partner at Meshbesher & Spence and provides small firm attention to her clients. Our lawyers can meet you to discuss your boat accident at our offices in Edina, Woodbury, and Minneapolis. In addition, a boat accident lawyer will come to you home to discuss injury cases in St. Paul, Rogers, Elk River, Maple Grove, and Brainerd. Our attorneys also come to Rogers, St. Cloud, Chanhassen, Chaska, and other cities throughout Minnesota.

Our attorneys will answer your MN boat accident questions. Further, we never charge anything unless you receive compensation for your injuries. In addition to boat accidents, we also represent people injured in snowmobile accidents, ATV accidents, tubing accidents, etc.