Boating and Watercraft Accidents

Thousands are injured each year in boating accidents. Vessels as large as ocean-going commercial or cruise line ships or as small as private pleasure crafts for local waterways may be involved in boating accidents. Boating is subject to its own version of the “Rules of the Road,” rules and regulations maintained by the Coast Guard and various state agencies to keep boaters safe. Violations of these rules often lead to accidents, and any investigation into a boating accident will include assessment of responsibility of the parties involved.

Chris Heavens has successfully represented people in boating and personal watercraft accident cases. One of his better known cases involved a commercial research vessel. Michael Stanley, a graduate student at West Virginia University (WVU), drowned while involved in a university sponsored research project on the Hudson River in New York. Prior to retaining Mr. Heavens, Mr. Stanley’s parents could not get a straight answer about what happened from West Virginia University or the owner of the vessel, New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium (NJMSC). Mr. Heavens quickly discovered that Michael Stanley’s death was easily preventable if WVU and NJMSC had implemented basic preventative measures. However, that did not stop WVU and NJMSC from engaging in numerous legal maneuvers in an attempt to escape responsibility for Michael Stanley’s death. If you would like to review a summary of how Mr. Heavens eventually took WVU and NJMSC to task, see the the attached article, Stanley v. NJMSC and WVU.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Heavens Law Firm at 1-866-HEAVLAW, submit a free online consultation, or contact us. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.