New York Boat Accident Lawyer

New York's harbor, rivers and bays are busy with ferries, water taxis, charter boats, jet skis and private boats. When an operator, owner or crew cuts corners, passengers, swimmers and workers can be badly hurt. Our New York boat accident lawyers represent injured people and their families, never boat owners or insurance companies.

Quick Answers About Boat Accident Claims in New York

Common Causes of Boating Accidents in New York

New York State Parks reported 19 boating deaths in 2025, and most of the people who died weren't wearing a life jacket. Nationally, the U.S. Coast Guard lists alcohol as the leading known factor in fatal boating accidents.

Common causes include:

• Inattention, improper lookout, speeding or an inexperienced operator
• Operating a boat or jet ski while intoxicated
• Collisions with other vessels, piers or swimmers
• Poor maintenance, equipment failure or onboard fires
• Wet decks, unsafe boarding ramps and falls overboard
• Heading out in unsafe weather or water conditions

We Handle All Types of New York Boat and Ferry Accident Claims

From the Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry's East River routes to marinas on City Island, Long Island Sound and the Great South Bay, our New York boat accident lawyers handle injury claims from every kind of vessel and waterfront. Here's how we approach the most common ones.

Ferry and Water Taxi Accidents

Passengers are hurt in hard dockings, falls on wet ramps and stairs, and collisions. Ferry operators owe passengers reasonable care, and commercial vessels must notify the Coast Guard of injuries that need more than first aid. We request that report along with crew logs, maintenance records and onboard video before they're lost. A claim against the City over a Staten Island Ferry injury generally needs a Notice of Claim within 90 days. For NYC Ferry and private water taxis, we identify the operating company and any public agency involved, because each can have its own notice rules.

Charter, Party and Fishing Boat Accidents

Guests on fishing charters, party boats and harbor tours are hurt by slippery decks, missing handholds, overcrowding and trips into rough water. The company, the captain and the boat's owner can each be responsible. Booking terms can shorten your deadline or require early written notice, so we review your ticket or booking email first.

Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents

Under New York Navigation Law § 73-a, everyone on a jet ski must wear a life jacket, riding between sunset and sunrise is banned, and riders generally must stay at least 500 feet from designated swimming areas. Rental businesses must explain and demonstrate how to operate the jet ski before renting it out. We check the rider's training, the rental paperwork and where the crash happened, because the rider, the owner and the rental business can each be responsible.

Recreational Boat Collisions and Boating While Intoxicated

Collisions between private boats usually come down to speed, inattention or an improper lookout. In New York, operating a motorboat with a blood alcohol level of .08% or more is illegal under Navigation Law § 49-a, the same limit as for drivers. We gather police and marine unit reports, witness accounts and any arrest records. A boat's owner can generally be held responsible too when someone they allowed to operate it causes a crash.

Dock and Marina Injuries

Visitors are hurt by rotted boards, missing railings, poor lighting and loose gangways. The marina or dock owner, and any company hired to maintain it, may be responsible for hazards they knew or should have known about. Workers hurt building or repairing a dock may also have claims under New York's construction safety laws, which our NYC construction accident lawyers handle.

Deadlines for a Boat Accident Claim in New York

Your deadline depends on the vessel and who is responsible:

• Most injuries on the water: federal maritime law generally gives you 3 years to sue, the same as New York's general injury deadline.
• Passenger tickets: ticket or booking terms can set shorter deadlines for giving notice and filing a lawsuit. Federal law limits how short they can be, and the limits depend on the type of vessel.
• City-run ferries: claims against New York City, such as an injury on the Staten Island Ferry, generally need a Notice of Claim within 90 days and a lawsuit within 1 year and 90 days.

Keep your ticket or booking email, because it may set your deadlines. Our New York boat accident lawyers will confirm which deadlines apply to your case.

What to Do After a Boat Accident

1. Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine.
2. Photograph the boat, the deck, your injuries and the weather and water conditions.
3. Keep your ticket, receipt or booking email.
4. Write down the names of the operator, crew and any witnesses.
5. Talk to us before you sign anything or give a recorded statement to an insurance company.

Compensation for Boat Accident Injuries

A boat accident claim can cover:

• Medical bills and future care
• Lost wages and lost earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• A wrongful death claim for families who lost a loved one

Our firm also handles drowning accidents and catastrophic injuries such as brain and spinal cord damage from accidents on the water.

Why Injured Boaters Choose Raphaelson & Levine

Since 1992, Raphaelson & Levine has recovered over $1 billion for injured New Yorkers. We work with experts to reconstruct what happened on the water and build cases insurers take seriously. Our firm has been featured in New York’s Top Verdicts & Settlements and New York’s Top Personal Injury Litigators.

Get Clear Answers From a New York Boat Accident Lawyer

After a boat or ferry accident, medical bills, missed work and questions about who's responsible can pile up fast, and an insurance company may already be calling for your statement.

In a free consultation, our New York boat accident lawyers will review what happened, check which deadlines apply to your vessel, identify everyone who may be responsible and explain what your claim could cover. With 34 years serving New York and over $1 billion recovered for injured New Yorkers, we'll give you straight answers, with no pressure and no obligation.

You deserve answers. Protect your future. Call (212) 268-3222 or request your free boat accident case review today. You pay no fee unless we win.