Collisions between vessels are some of the most serious incidents that occur on navigable waters. Whether the crash involves two commercial ships, a tugboat and barge, a fishing vessel, or a passenger boat, the results can be devastating. Injuries often happen without warning, and the legal questions that follow are rarely straightforward.
For maritime workers and passengers injured in a vessel collision, the path to compensation is governed by federal maritime law. These cases demand careful investigation and a clear understanding of how responsibility is assigned on the water. At Latti Associates LLC, we represent individuals harmed in vessel collisions throughout the East Coast and nationwide, helping them pursue claims rooted in accountability and fairness.
When Collisions Between Boats and Ships Cause Serious Harm
Vessel collisions happen in a wide range of settings like crowded ports, narrow rivers, inland waterways, and open ocean routes. Unlike car accidents, ships and boats cannot stop quickly, and even low-speed impacts can cause major injuries due to the size and weight involved.
Crew members may be thrown into equipment or bulkheads. Passengers may be injured during sudden stops or evasive maneuvers. In some cases, collisions may lead to fires, flooding, or people being knocked overboard. The physical injuries are often compounded by lost income, extended recovery, and uncertainty about future work.
How Maritime Collisions Happen in Ports, Rivers, and Open Water
Most vessel collisions are not random events. They are usually tied to human decisions, vessel condition, or operational failures. Congested shipping lanes, poor visibility, and changing weather can all raise the risk, especially when combined with fatigue or inadequate staffing.
Common contributing factors include:
- Navigational errors
- Failure to maintain a proper lookout
- Miscommunication between vessels
- Mechanical failures
- Inattentiveness
- Poor voyage planning
In towing and docking operations, mistakes involving speed, positioning, or line handling can quickly lead to collisions.
Injuries That Commonly Follow Boat and Ship Collisions
The injuries seen in vessel collision cases are often serious and long-lasting. Maritime workers face particular risks because they are usually on deck or in work areas when collisions occur.
Common injuries include:
- Head trauma
- Spinal injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Crush injuries
Some suffer long-term mobility issues or are unable to return to maritime work. In the most severe cases, vessel collisions result in fatalities, leaving families to pursue maritime wrongful death claims.
How Fault Is Evaluated After a Maritime Collision
Determining fault after a vessel collision is a detailed process. Maritime law looks beyond surface explanations and focuses on how vessels were operated leading up to the impact. Investigations often involve reviewing navigation practices, vessel speed, compliance with maritime rules of the road, and whether proper safety procedures were followed.
Evidence may include logbooks, radar data, maintenance records, Coast Guard reports, and crew statements. Because multiple vessels and companies are often involved, assigning responsibility can be challenging. At Latti Associates LLC, we work closely to build a clear picture of what happened and why.
Shared Responsibility and Comparative Fault Under Maritime Law
Maritime law allows for comparative fault, meaning responsibility for a collision can be divided among more than one party. Vessel owners, operators, captains, contractors, and even third-party service providers may share liability.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto injured workers or passengers to reduce payouts. Careful investigation and documentation are essential to ensure responsibility is fairly assigned and that injured individuals are not unfairly blamed for conditions beyond their control.
Legal Paths After a Collision at Sea or on Navigable Waters
The type of claim available after a vessel collision depends on who was injured and how the incident occurred. Injured seamen may bring claims under the Jones Act if employer negligence played a role or for unseaworthiness under general maritime law. Passengers and non-seamen may pursue negligence claims under general maritime law.
When a collision results in a death on the water, surviving family members may have claims under maritime wrongful death statutes, including the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) in certain circumstances. Each legal path has its own requirements, deadlines, and standards of proof, making early legal guidance important.
Damages Available After a Boat or Ship Collision
Compensation in vessel collision cases reflects both immediate losses and long-term consequences. Maritime law allows injured individuals to seek damages that address how the collision has affected their health, work, and daily life.
Damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering and mental anguish and compensation for physical limitations caused by the injury.
For injured seamen, maintenance and cure benefits may also apply, covering basic living expenses and medical care during recovery. Disputes over these benefits are common after serious collisions.
What to Do in the Hours and Days After a Maritime Collision
The period immediately following a vessel collision is critical. Employers, vessel owners, and insurers often act quickly to protect their interests, sometimes before injured individuals fully understand the extent of their injuries.
After a collision, it is important to seek medical care, report the incident through proper channels, and preserve any information about vessel conditions or operations. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing documents without legal guidance. Latti Associates LLC steps in early to protect clients and handle communication with companies and insurers.
Why Latti Associates LLC Handles Maritime Collision Cases Nationwide
For more than 60 years, Latti Associates LLC has represented injured maritime workers and families affected by serious accidents on the water. Led by trial lawyer Carolyn Latti, the firm continues a family legacy in maritime law that spans generations. Carolyn has spent over 30 years handling maritime injury and wrongful death cases and remains personally involved in every matter the firm accepts.
As a nationwide maritime practice, Latti Associates LLC represents clients throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and beyond. Over $100 million has been recovered over the years through Jones Act claims, unseaworthiness cases, and other maritime actions. Our work is grounded in careful preparation, practical understanding of maritime operations, and readiness to take cases to trial.
Speak With Latti Associates LLC About a Maritime Collision Injury
A vessel collision can change the course of a life in seconds. Maritime law offers protections, but those protections only work when claims are handled correctly from the start.
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision involving a boat or ship, contact Latti Associates LLC. We represent injured maritime workers and passengers across the East Coast and throughout the U.S. and are prepared to stand with you after a serious maritime collision.
