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Boat Accidents
Maine Boat Accident Attorneys
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Maine Boat Accident attorneys helping victims recover fair compensation.
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The Port of Portland in Maine handles roughly 10 million tons of cargo every year. That’s more cargo ships loading and unloading goods annually than there are days in the year.
Furthermore, those ships represent only a fraction of the boats that travel in Maine waters. Between shipping vessels and private boats, the coastal areas of Maine can be packed on any given day.
While boat accidents are relatively uncommon, the damage can be quite severe when they do occur. Apart from the financial damage from destroyed goods, ruined mail, or lost fishing hauls, ship collisions can cause serious injuries or even death.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident on the water, the accomplished Maine boat accident attorneys at Gideon Asen can help you go after the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Don’t wait to take action — contact our top-rated boating accidents law firm today.
Pursuing Damages After Maine Boat Accidents
Maine’s maritime laws allow you to pursue damages after you’re injured in a boat accident caused by another party. You can potentially recover damages for the following losses:
- Medical bills related to your injuries
- Missed time at work and lost benefits
- Repair costs to your vessel if you’re the owner
- Other treatment costs and expenses related to your injury
- Pain and suffering
The knowledgeable Maine boat accident attorneys from Gideon Asen can identify the types of damages you qualify for and tell you what you need to do to obtain them.
As part of our services, we’ll investigate your accident, preserve key evidence, and take the lead in all necessary communications with outside parties, including law enforcement and insurance companies.
By aggressively taking charge of your case, we put insurers on notice: We’re willing to go to trial if they don’t act in good faith. This proactive approach gets results.
Our proven Maine boat accident attorneys average over $1 million per case and have secured hundreds of millions in damages since the founding of our firm.
What to Expect After a Boating Accident in Maine
If you’re hurt in a boat accident in Maine, you may be unsure about what you should do next. This is to be expected — boating accidents are uncommon enough that relatively few people ever experience them.
Here are some key points to keep in mind as you deal with the aftermath of your marine mishap:
Addressing Medical Complications While at Sea
Before you do anything else, seek medical attention. Boat accident injuries can vary significantly depending on the circumstances. Common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Partial drowning
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Contusions
All of these conditions require medical diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, this kind of attention can be difficult to get aboard a ship. As such, it’s crucial to utilize whatever first aid is available until you can get to a medical facility on land. Immediate intervention can reduce the chances of your injuries worsening.
If possible, contact the marine authorities immediately to request assistance. If any party tries to prevent or limit your ability to get medical attention, document their actions. Your Maine boat accident lawyer can potentially take legal action against them if their interference causes additional harm.
Reporting the Accident
Anytime someone is injured or killed in a boat accident off the coast of Maine, the pilot of the boat involved is required to report the accident to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife or the U.S. Coast Guard, depending on where the accident occurred.
If you aren’t certain whether you’re in state or federal waters, it’s a good idea to report the accident to both parties. Conveniently, they both accept the same reporting form.
Part of the form asks for the contact and registration information of the other parties and vessels involved in the accident. Similar to a car accident, you’re required to exchange information with the other party if it’s safe to do so.
This is less relevant if you aren’t the owner or operator of the boat you were on when the accident took place. However, as an injured party, you’re expected to provide this information to the pilot of the other vessel, and you also have a right to receive their information.
It’s important to get these details, as they’ll serve as the starting point for your case when you begin working with a boating accident attorney.
Consulting a Qualified Maine Boat Accident Lawyer
As soon as you’re able, contact the skilled Maine boat accident lawyers at Gideon Asen. Boat collision cases can be tricky because they often involve both federal and state laws and regulations. They can also be difficult to investigate.
Our legal team will move swiftly, interviewing witnesses, obtaining any existing physical evidence, and helping you get the best medical care available. Many boat accident victims face serious medical complications. It’s therefore essential to have the right doctors providing your care if you’re seriously injured.
Personalized Legal Aid to Get You the Support You Need
We recognize that every client has a unique story. We want to know that story. Our compassionate personal injury lawyers will sit down with you to listen to your version of events during your free consultation. Discussing your case in depth ensures that we have the information we need to get favorable results for you.
When we negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance provider, we’ll take your individual needs into account. If the insurer isn’t willing to meet those needs as part of a settlement, we won’t even consider their offer.
Our team will never make any decisions without your approval. This includes the decision about whether to go to trial. We’ll offer individualized advice backed by hard data and decades of experience in the legal field, but the final say will always be yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Take Legal Action Against My Employer if I Was Injured on a Ship I Work On?
According to the Jones Act, the Federal Employer’s Liability Act applies to seamen. That means you can file a personal injury claim against your employer after suffering injuries during a boating accident while performing work-related duties.
Depending on the situation, your employer might sue the owner of the other ship to offset the losses from the claim you make against them. However, that doesn’t affect your ability to take civil action or file an insurance claim against your employer.
The Owner of a Boat I Was Aboard During an Accident Wants Me to Sign a Waiver. Should I Sign it?
No. Never sign anything without the approval of a trustworthy personal injury lawyer. Ship owners or their insurance companies often seek to minimize their losses after a boating accident, especially if any of their crew were at fault.
By signing a waiver, you could limit your ability to receive fair compensation for your injuries. Even if someone tells you that signing is mandatory or you won’t be eligible to obtain compensation if you don’t sign, you should insist on consulting your legal team before acting.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Help My Lawyer After Being Hurt in a Boat Accident?
The most important thing you can do is document the accident as best you can. Take photos or videos of both vessels, the damage they suffered, and any visible injuries you’ve sustained.
Once you’ve done that, collect the contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Witnesses can be tough to track down, especially when they’re mariners. Knowing their names, employers, and other key identifying details will make it easier for our diligent Maine boat accident lawyers to find and interview them.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dedicated Boat Accident Lawyer in Maine Today
Boat and ship accidents may be similar to car accidents in some ways, but they’re far less straightforward to deal with. Between complex regulations and the difficulty (or impossibility) of reconstructing the events that led to the mishap, getting fair compensation can be frustratingly complicated.
The tenacious boat accident attorneys at Gideon Asen can help you pursue maximum compensation with minimal frustration. We’re willing to take on major marine employers and their insurance companies while you put your energy toward recovering from your injuries. Contact us today to discuss your legal rights and options.
What they say
“Taylor Asen and Ben Gideon’s professionalism, expertise, diligence, commitment and kindness never wavered, diminished or faltered during the period it took to resolve my medical malpractice case.”
