Seattle Maritime Injury & Accident Attorneys Serving King County, Washington
BoatLaw’s maritime injury and boat accident lawyers, Doug Williams and Nicholas Neidzwski, are the West Coast’s top-rated maritime attorneys for those injured on boats or while working offshore or in port.
Licensed in Washington with a convenient Seattle location, our maritime law firm is here to serve you with diligence, compassion, and the expertise required to maximize your injury claim.
BoatLaw is known for:
- Decades of success in maritime and boat injury cases
- Compassionate, diligent work from lawyers who truly love the maritime industry
- Millions recovered for clients in workers compensation, injury, and wrongful death claims
- Free, no obligation consultations for maritime injury claims
Call us at (206) 624-8647 for your free case review. You may also contact us online and a member of our legal team will reach out shortly.
Experienced Maritime Injury & Boat Accident Lawyers in Seattle, WA
BoatLaw, LLP is an experienced and top-rated law firm for maritime injuries and boating accidents in Seattle, Washington. We fight for maximum compensation, even if your claim was previously denied. With decades of success and millions reclaimed in worker’s compensation, injury, and wrongful death cases, our maritime attorneys are ready to fight for your rights.
BoatLaw’s Seattle maritime lawyers will provide service to boat accident victims and maritime workers employed by companies headquartered or incorporated in Seattle, Washington who operate in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Bering Sea.
Let Our Law Firm Maximize Your Injury Claim
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Our top-rated law firm litigates maritime claims in Seattle and around the country. We’ve helped clients reclaim millions in payouts after offshore injuries and boating accidents.
Do not settle for less than what your case is worth. Contact our law firm today.
Recent Review: “I was very fortunate to be represented by Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski PLLC. Their team was extremely understanding throughout the entire process, and incredibly kind. They truly go the extra mile for your best interest and care… that’s something that you don’t see everyday. I was lucky to have Nick, Farrell, and Cher working on my side. They are wonderful people and are experts in their field. I wish I would of hired them sooner. However, I was still able to receive excellent care even though some time had passed since the initial injury. I highly recommend them to anyone that needs representation for a Maritime Injury. They have done a wonderful service for me and I can’t thank them enough.”
Verified Review on Google from Jane E.
Common Maritime Accidents & Boat Injury Claims in Seattle
Anytime you set foot on a boat, whether you’re a recreational boater or work in the maritime business, there’s a risk of injury. This is especially true for longshore men and seamen who work yearlong in the maritime industry.
Common types of maritime accidents and boating injuries that we specialize in include:
- Barge Accidents
- Boating Injuries, including banana boats and jet ski accidents
- Cruise Ship Injuries, including yacht injuries
- Deck Accidents
- Ferry Accidents
- Oil Rig Accidents
- Tugboat Accidents
- Tour Boat Accidents
- Unsafe Working Conditions
- Port Collision Accidents
- Accidents Due to Inadequate Training
- Dry Dock Accidents
- Engine Room Accidents
Meet the Trusted Maritime Attorneys at Boatlaw
Maritime Workers We Represent in Seattle
Longshoremen – Maritime workers who manage the ports and waterways to ensure no accidents occur are known as longshoremen. Longshoremen often sustain serious injuries when on the job and have access to the United States Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA or USL&H). The act essentially states you must be provided wage replacements when recovering from your injury and your medical costs must be covered by your employer. There are various types of jobs a longshoreman can pursue including:
- Stevedores
- Ship-Breakers
- Ship Repairmen
- Marine Construction Workers
- Ship Engineers
- Harbor Laborer
Seamen – People who work on the vessel as crew members are referred to as seamen. These workers face incredibly challenging jobs both mentally and physically. They are at risk of bad weather, unseaworthy vessels, and the carelessness or negligence of their other crew members. Seamen who are injured on the job can resort to a number of legal statutes and common maritime laws to seek damages. Depending on the vessel, there are various jobs a seaman can have including the following:
- Captain
- Deck Officers
- Chief Mate
- Second Mate
- Third Mate
- Deck Cadet
- Boatswain
- Able Seaman
- Ordinary Seaman
- Engineering Officer
- Motorman
- Oiler
- Chief Steward
- Chief Cook
BoatLaw’s Nationally Recognized Maritime Attorneys Serving Seattle
Nicholas J. NeidzwskiNicholas J. Neidzwski is an accomplished trial attorney who handles maritime and personal injury litigation. Nick’s litigation experience includes the successful resolution of various Jones Act, general maritime, and product liability cases on behalf of many different individuals against various companies, including some of the largest maritime corporations in the United States. He has appeared for plaintiffs in state and federal courts throughout Washington, California, Oregon, and Alaska, and has established a reputation as a dedicated advocate for injured individuals and their families. Read Nick’s lawyer profile. |
Douglas R. WilliamsDouglas R. Williams was raised in a military family. After retiring from the armed forces, his father sailed as the chief medical officer with several of the world’s prominent cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Doug spent a good part of his youth—when not in school—living in crew quarters aboard ships, sailing with his father. These experiences shaped his career by giving him firsthand exposure to the maritime industry from an early age. Read Doug’s lawyer profile. |
Law Firm Reviews
Recreational Boating Accident Statistics for Washington
Every year, the United States Coast Guard releases a report on recreational boating statistics. This data provides an interesting look into the causes of boating accidents and the frequency of which they occur. The Coast Guard collects this information annually so they can study it and have a better understanding of boater’s safety.
The following is some statistics pulled from the 2019 recreational boat accident statistic report for the state of Washington and the city of Seattle.
- In total, the state of Washington had 114 recreational boating accidents in 2020
- Out of those 114, 11 of those accidents were for capsizing
- 10 of these accidents were collisions with a fixed object of sorts
- The state of Washington had 4 recreational boating accidents where it was a collision with a floating object
- In Washington, there were 28 collisions with another recreational vessel
- There were recorded 11 falls overboard in 2020
- It was found that 9 people were injured or killed by a propellor
- 28 people were found to have drowned and died in 2020 due to accidents
- 52 people were injured that year due to recreational boating accidents
Maritime Accidents & Boating Injuries in Seattle
According to the United States Census Bureau, Washington State has a population of over 7 million people and Pier 52 is one of the busiest ferry terminals in the U.S. Seattle, Washington is located in King County, the most populous county in Washington.
There are many people who work in the State of Washington and King County who are employed in the maritime industry. This includes crewmembers and other workers who spend at least 30% of their time working aboard a U.S vessel in navigable waters who qualify for seaman status and, therefore, the protections provided by the Jones Act and general maritime law. The Jones Act and general maritime law provide remedies for workers when they become injured in an accident or fall ill in the service of a ship.
Seattle Maritime Law Information Center
- What Can Be Recovered from a Maritime Personal Injury Claim?
- Common Maritime Law claims in King County
- Common Maritime Accidents in Seattle, WA
- Maritime Occupations of those in Greater Seattle
- Communities We Serve throughout Greater Seattle
- Additional Resources for Maritime Law in Seattle
Communities We Serve Near Seattle
The colorful city of Seattle is rich in history and culture. From its historic districts to idyllic tranquil neighborhoods, Seattle offers numerous communities for residents and visitors. The lawyers at BOATLAW, LLP represent people who live in the city of Seattle and its surrounding communities, including:
- Downtown Seattle
- Fremont
- Pioneer Square
- SoDo & Georgetown
- South Lake Union
- Waterfront
- Bellevue / Eastside
- Queen Anne
- Columbia City
- West Seattle
- Woodinville
- Wallingford, Green Lake & Phinney Ridge
- University District
- Belltown
- Chinatown-International District
- Ballard
- Bainbridge / Bremerton
What Can be Recovered From a Maritime Personal Injury Claim?
Maritime accidents can have very serious consequences on a worker’s personal and financial wellbeing. Some offshore injuries are not realized until the worker feels pain days after working on oil drilling rigs, production platforms, docks and other maritime environments.
Maritime accidents are governed by a different set of laws than the common landside accidents. Workers who are employed aboard boats and vessels in navigable waters are typically covered under the Jones Act, the general maritime law, or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Navigable waters include rivers, canals and oceans, to name a few.
Claims under the Jones Act allow injured workers to recover full compensation for what they lost because of the accident that caused injury. This includes compensation for medical bills, loss of wages, past and future economic loss, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering.
It is important to speak with a lawyer who is familiar with maritime and admiralty law who will know which laws apply to your maritime claim and can guide you through the process of getting the compensation you deserve.
Offshore Personal Injuries Resources
Offshore Worker Laws – Click here to view offshore worker laws from Tulane Maritime Law Center.
King County, Washington: Boating information –Visit King County’s website for boating information, recreation guides, boat licensing, water safety and other information. This website provides regional services to all residents of the county.
Boating Rules & Regulation Fact Sheet – Click this link to go to King County’s Boating rules & regulations.
Contact King County District Courthouse:
516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-205-9200; Toll Free: 800-325-6165
Let an Experienced Seattle Maritime Injury Lawyer Handle Your Claim
BoatLaw, LLP is a maritime injury law firm representing injured maritime workers, longshoremen, dock workers, and defense base employees nationwide.
We are located at 85 S Washington St Suite 308 Seattle, WA 98104. With decades of success in worker’s compensation, injury, and wrongful death cases, our experienced attorneys are ready to protect your rights. Call (206) 624-8647 today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation, or submit a contact form and our legal team will reach out to you ASAP.
BoatLaw, LLP
85 S Washington St Suite 308
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 624-8647
