PADDLECRAFT ACCIDENTSCanoes, Kayaks, and Stand-Up Paddleboards

Paddlecraft vessels (canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards) hold the third most casualty numbers, most of which were from drowning. Paddlecraft users are particularly vulnerable on Maryland waterways because they sit low in the water, have little physical protection, and are easily capsized by large wakes. In areas with heavy recreational boat traffic like the Chesapeake Bay and its connecting rivers, the negligence of boat or personal watercraft operators is more likely to leave paddlecraft users with deadly or life-threatening injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, hypothermia, and drowning risks.

Boat operators have a legal duty to maintain safe speeds around other vessels, keep proper lookout, and follow navigational rules designed to protect even smaller vessels like paddlecraft on the water. When an operator fails to act responsibly, they do not just put lives at risk; they may be held liable for their negligence. It is also equally important to establish where that liability ends, ensuring all parties responsible share the liability. Those parties may include:

• Boat or PWC Operators: through inattention, excessive speeds, or rule violations
• Boat or PWC Owners: for negligent entrustment or failure to maintain vessels properly
• Charter Companies: for renting vessels to persons without adequate experience or instruction

Paddlecraft accident claims can raise unique maritime law and jurisdictional issues. Depending on the circumstances, a paddleboard may qualify as a “vessel” under maritime law, which can affect how a case is handled and what legal claims may apply. Questions involving navigable waters, federal admiralty jurisdiction, and boating safety regulations often require careful legal analysis. It is important to find a lawyer who is ready to handle these issues for you. Victims of paddlecraft accidents 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.