Mississippi River Boat Accident Attorneys
The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the United States and consists of thousands of miles of navigable waters through the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Boat crashes, fires, and other accidents on the river can result in serious injuries or even death for passengers and operators. The Mississippi River boat accident attorneys represent victims of these accidents across these 10 states and fight to get them the compensation they need.
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident on a boat on the Mississippi, contact our maritime injury attorneys at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. We work across the country to help victims of boating accidents recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. For a free case consultation, call us at (866) 386-1762.
How to Sue for Boating Accidents on the Mississippi River
Accidents on “navigable waters” in the U.S. are typically handled under U.S. maritime law. This means that they can be filed in federal court in many cases, and they are handled uniformly throughout the country. Whether you were injured in Minnesota or near the end of the river at the Gulf of Mexico, you could be entitled to sue for damages under these rules.
Our maritime injury attorneys represent victims of all kinds of accident lawsuits throughout the country. Accidents on the Mississippi River could involve crashes between two boats, injuries to crewmembers, shipping accidents, and even slip and fall injuries aboard a vessel. No matter what type of accident you were injured in, the law usually allows you to sue anyone who could be considered at fault for the injury in a court of law.
These lawsuits must be proven before you can get the damages you deserve. This means showing that the at-fault party owed you a legal duty, and that they breached that duty, which caused your injuries. The duty in many of these cases is something as simple as carefully operating a vessel to avoid accidents or meeting basic safety standards to ensure that the vessel is safe for crew and passengers. Other injuries could involve assault or sexual assault or other types of intentional violence, which you can also sue for. Lawsuits can also be filed for missing persons and overboard accidents on the river.
These cases are often filed against employers, ship owners, and ship operators. Plaintiffs in these accidents could be passengers, crewmembers, anyone else injured in a crash, or even the families of those killed in such accidents.
To file your lawsuit, your lawyer will submit the proper paperwork to the courts and give notice to the defendant. From there, a case can be won after it progresses through the courts and either leads to a settlement or goes to trial.
Damages for Victims of Boating Injuries on the Mississippi River
Victims of serious injuries could be entitled to compensation for the harms they faced in their accident. Many accidents leave victims with physical injuries that require medical attention. These injuries could cause them to have to miss work or even change careers to accommodate their injuries or disabilities. All the while, victims could face substantial pain and suffering and other effects on their lives.
The damages you can claim in court are often higher than the damages you could see through an insurance claim. Most crew and workers on ships and boats are not covered by workers’ compensation plans, but boater’s insurance might be available to cover some injuries after a crash or to cover some dangers and risks aboard the vessel. However, the damages paid through these insurance policies often do not cover your damages in full and completely exclude damages for pain and suffering and other “noneconomic” damages.
When you file a lawsuit in court to get compensation for your injuries, you can claim full compensation for the costs of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Damages for medical bills can often be higher in boating accident cases because victims might need medical evacuation via boat or helicopter to get them to a hospital quickly. They might also face worsened injuries during the time it takes to get them help, resulting in additional care costs and harms.
Many accidents where the victim is allowed to languish untreated could also mean that otherwise treatable injuries become permanent disabilities. Victims can claim damages for the effects on their lives, such as reduced earnings, reduced enjoyment of certain activities, and difficulty caring for themselves.
When to Contact a Lawyer after a Mississippi River Boating Accident
If you were injured in a ship crash or a boating accident on the Mississippi, then you should contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Certainly, give yourself time to get medical treatment and begin to recover from your injuries, but you should not wait to call a lawyer after an accident. Cases must be filed within certain deadlines to be heard in court, and you might lose the chance to interview witnesses or collect evidence if you wait too long to get a lawyer and send letters requesting that evidence be preserved.
Call Our Mississippi River Boat Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Consultation
After a serious accident, a lawyer can help you get compensation for the injuries and other damages that you faced. With a boating accident on the Mississippi River, you will likely need help from a maritime injury attorney. The Mississippi River boat accident attorneys at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. have decades of experience representing boating accident victims, and we may be able to help with your case as well. For a free case consultation, call us at (866) 386-1762.
