BOATING COLLISIONS WITH STATIONARY OBJECTSCollisions with docks, buoys, debris, or moored vessels

As per the United States Coast Guard 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics report, collisions with fixed objects (legally known as “allisions”) were the number one ranked boating incidents with the most recorded fatalities. When boats strike docks, buoys, bridges, pilings, or other fixed or stationary objects, victims often suffer catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

Stationary object collisions differ from a vessel-to-vessel collision because the fixed nature of the object often results in experiencing higher-impact forces. The abrupt deceleration of a boat traveling at high speeds results in violent forces that throw passengers forward, striking instruments within the boat or going overboard.

Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, and navigation rules violations are among the top five contributing factors that contribute to victims’ injuries. Boat operators owe a duty of care to their passengers and those around them to follow the “Rules of the Road” in Maryland’s waterways. Operators using their phones, distracted by their passengers, or monitoring fishing equipment, fail to notice stationary objects until it is too late. Inexperienced operators or those who may not understand navigation rules often fail to recognize hazard markers, right-of-way rules near structures, or how to approach fixed objects safely in various conditions.

If you are a victim of a boat collision with a stationary or fixed object, it is important to establish all parties who may share responsibility. Those may include:

• Boat Operators: through inattention, inexperience, or rule violations
• Boat Owners: for negligent entrustment or failure to maintain vessels properly
• Charter Companies: for renting vessels to persons without adequate experience or instruction
• Structure Owners: Dock, pier, or marina owners if inadequate lighting or markers contributed to the collision
• Government Entities: responsible for maintaining navigable waterways, proper marking of hazards, and safe infrastructure for structures like bridges

Boat allision cases are complex, as they often involve General Maritime Law, admiralty jurisdiction, multiple insurance policies, and complicated liability issues. Victims of boat allisions may be entitled to compensation for: medical expenses; lost income and future earnings; pain and suffering; emotional distress; property damage to their vessel; rehabilitation and long-term medical care; wrongful death damages in fatal accidents.

Please call 301-888-HURT for Maryland Personal Injury Attorney George P. Patterson, with 30 years of experience in both state and federal court to schedule a free consultation. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a Top 5 Maryland Plaintiff Personal Injury lawyer by Super Lawyers.  Patterson Law’s office is located in Annapolis, Maryland by the Anne Arundel Medical Center.