Free consultation with an injury lawyer. Call 412-802-6666, text 412-855-5511, or send us a message.
A day on the water should not end in the emergency room.
Since 1997, the attorneys at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick have represented injured people and their families throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We work closely as one team. Every case that heads toward trial has the whole team behind it. Thousands of people boat, fish, tube, water-ski and ride personal watercraft on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers and on lakes across Western Pennsylvania. Some accidents are simply accidents. Many happen because someone was careless.
Common Causes of Boat Accidents
- Inexperienced or distracted operators
- Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to watch for swimmers, skiers, tubers and other boats
- Speeding or ignoring the rules of the water
- Missing or improper lights and markings, especially at dusk and night
- Poor maintenance of the boat or engine
- Unmarked hazards in shallow or dangerous areas
- Defectively designed or assembled boats and parts
Alcohol and Boating
Boat trips often involve groups, loud music and drinking. Operating a boat under the influence is a crime in Pennsylvania, including operating with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more (30 Pa.C.S. § 5502), just as drunk driving is. An impaired operator who hurts someone can be held responsible in a civil case.
Pennsylvania Rules You Should Know
- Owners can be liable. A boat owner who allows someone else to operate the boat can be held responsible, along with the operator, for damages caused while it is operated. The same applies to someone who rents or lends a boat (30 Pa.C.S. § 5504).
- Duties after an accident. An operator involved in an accident must stop, help anyone injured when it is safe to do so, and give their name, address and boat registration number (30 Pa.C.S. § 5507).
- Life jackets. Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while underway on boats 20 feet or shorter and on all canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. From November 1 through April 30, everyone must wear one on boats under 16 feet and on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules).
- Deadline. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency require written notice within six months, and immunity laws limit some claims.
- Federal maritime law. Some accidents on navigable rivers fall under federal maritime law, which has its own rules, including a three-year deadline for maritime injury claims. Never assume you have more than two years.
- Shared fault. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share.
- Injured children. For a child, the two-year deadline generally does not start running until the child turns 18. Waiting is rarely wise, though. Evidence and witnesses are easier to find early.
How We Build Boating Cases
- Thorough investigation. We gather accident reports, photos, witness statements and medical records early.
- Find every source of coverage. Operators, owners, rental companies and marinas may each have insurance.
- Experts when they matter. Marine safety and reconstruction witnesses explain speed, visibility and fault.
- Trial-ready. Insurance companies know we are prepared to try cases to a jury.
What You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering and loss of life’s pleasures
- Scarring, disfigurement and permanent disability
- Wrongful death and survival damages for the family of a person killed
Related Cases We Handle
Talk to an Injury Lawyer
Every case starts with a conversation with a lawyer. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. Our injury cases are handled by Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel, working with Shawn Flaherty.
Call 412-802-6666 or email Managing Partner Noah Fardo at npf@pghfirm.com. Prefer to text? Use 412-855-5511. More answers: Personal Injury FAQ.
There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery. We advance the case costs and are reimbursed from the client’s share only if we are successful. General information only, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.











