Savannah Boat Port Injury Lawyer

A Brief Summary of the Following Article

  • Hasner Law Representation: Hasner Law provides comprehensive legal assistance for boating and port incident victims in Savannah.
  • Common Accidents: Our practice covers a range of boating and port accidents, including operator negligence, equipment failure, and unsafe port conditions. These incidents often involve complex factors that require expert legal analysis to establish liability and pursue rightful compensation.
  • Maritime Occupational Risks: Working in maritime environments, especially on docks and piers, exposes workers to risks from heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and congested areas. Accidents like crane malfunctions, slips, trips, and vehicle collisions are prevalent and can be attributed to common hazards, negligence, or unsafe premises.
  • Navigating Maritime Claims: Navigating relevant federal and state laws, such as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, and the Jones Act, Hasner Law focuses on ensuring every aspect of your case is thoroughly evaluated to enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Georgia’s vast and scenic waterways are a hub of boating and maritime activities. However, individuals and workers alike are at risk of accidents when engaging in bustling recreational and business ventures in the Port of Savannah. If you have been injured in a boating or port incident, understanding your legal rights and options is essential to pursue the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost income, and other losses. Navigating the complex maritime laws and regulations can be challenging without an experienced Savannah boat port injury attorney, but with the right legal assistance at Hasner Law, victims can effectively seek justice for the wrongdoings they suffered. 

A qualified Hasner Law Savannah, Georgia boat port injury lawyer can provide invaluable legal guidance. Whether you’re a recreational boater, a professional mariner, or a port worker, we will help you take the necessary steps to achieve a favorable outcome after a boating or port-related injury.

Types of Port Accidents We Handle in Savannah 

Boating and port accidents in Savannah occur due to various factors, often involving a breach of maritime law or other factors that necessitate thorough investigation. Types of boating and port incidents include:  

  • Operator negligence: This is one of the leading causes of boating accidents. It includes behaviors such as operating the boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, excessive speed, inattention, and failure to follow maritime laws and regulations.
  • Lack of experience: Inexperienced operators may lack the necessary skills to navigate challenging water conditions, respond to emergencies, or safely maneuver the boat in crowded areas, leading to accidents.
  • Equipment failure: Malfunctioning navigational equipment, engine problems, or failure of safety gear like life jackets can result in serious accidents. Routine maintenance and inspections are essential to prevent such issues.
  • Overcrowding: Overloading a boat with passengers or cargo can affect its stability and maneuverability, increasing the risk of capsizing or collisions.
  • Poor maintenance: Neglecting regular maintenance of boats and port facilities can lead to various dangerous situations, from equipment failures to structural collapses.
  • Communication failures: Miscommunication or lack of communication among boat operators, between boats and ports, or within a port facility can lead to errors in navigation, docking, and other operations.
  • Unsafe port conditions: Slippery docks, poorly maintained equipment, inadequate signage, or insufficient lighting at ports can lead to accidents, especially for workers handling cargo or equipment.
  • Collisions with other vessels or objects: Collisions are common and can occur due to operator inattention, miscalculation, or failure to adhere to navigation rules.
  • Man overboard and drowning incidents: These can occur due to a lack of safety measures, negligence, or hazardous conditions on the boat.

Whether on land or at sea, jobs in the maritime industry come with inherent risks. The areas around docks and piers, just like shipyards or vessels on the ocean, are fraught with hazards due to the plethora of activities conducted there. These locations are essential for ship crews to board and leave ships and are crucial for port workers who engage in various tasks like longshore duties, refueling ships, and loading or unloading cargo.

Tasks often involve operating heavy machinery and handling dangerous substances in environments bustling with people and moving vehicles. This convergence of different activities, personnel, and equipment inevitably leads to accidents, resulting in significant injuries or even fatalities among maritime workers each year.

Other prevalent accidents at docks and piers include the following:

  • Mishaps with cranes and winches
  • Container-related accidents
  • Electrocution from improperly placed wires and equipment
  • Gangway mishaps
  • Structural failures of docks and piers due to inadequate maintenance
  • Accidents involving trucks, cars, and forklifts
  • Fires and explosions
  • Incidents with hazardous materials
  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Mooring line accidents
  • Collisions between vessels and the pier

Many of these incidents may be traced back to negligence by facility operators or contractors, such as disregarding safety protocols or insufficient training of workers. Additionally, companies that neglect the upkeep of docks and piers, allowing them to deteriorate, are failing in their lawful duty to provide a safe working environment.

Why Do You Need the Help of a Savannah Port Injury Lawyer? 

Engaging an attorney not well-versed in maritime law can result in missing out on the full extent of benefits and compensation you deserve.

The specifics of your employment, the parties involved, and where your injury occurred will largely dictate which maritime law applies to your case. Generally, one of the following three laws may apply:

  • The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
  • The Death on the High Seas Act 
  • The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act

Speak With the Savannah Port Injury Attorneys at Hasner Law Today 

If you’ve been injured in a boating or port incident in Savannah, you may have legal recourse to pursue compensation for the damages you suffered. At Hasner Law, we have 100 years of combined experience helping victims build strong third-party claims against negligent parties, or navigate workers’ compensation on their behalf.

Contact a Savannah, GA port injury lawyer today for a free consultation by calling (678) 928-8784 or filling out a contact form.