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Get Legal Help After A Recreational Boating Accident

Surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes and covered with over 26,000 small inland lakes, Michigan is a boater’s paradise. With nearly 800,000 registered boats, Michigan has the third highest number of registered boats in the country. During the summer months, Michiganders take to Michigan’s waterways to enjoy pleasure boating, fishing and various water sports activities.

Unfortunately, accidents on the water happen. In 2016, there were 125 U.S. Coast Guard-reported boating accidents, which resulted in 38 fatalities, numbers that increased since the previous year. If you are involved in a recreational boating accident in Michigan, it is important that you contact an experienced maritime attorney to adequately protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Michigan’s combination of Great Lakes and inland waterways present unique issues as they relate to general maritime law jurisdiction. If a boating accident did not occur on navigable waters, then there is no general maritime jurisdiction in the matter. In The Daniel Ball, 77 U.S. 557 (1871), the U.S. Supreme Court has defined “navigable waters” as all waters – including lakes, waterways, rivers, harbors and oceans – that are being used by vessels or are capable of being used in interstate or foreign commerce. Accordingly, the laws that apply in an accident differ greatly depending on the specific waterway in which the accident occurred.

Learn More At A Free Initial Consultation

If you have been involved in a boating accident in Michigan, it is important that you hire an experienced maritime attorney to counsel you and protect your legal rights. The attorneys of Biggs & Gunst P.C. Attorneys At Law are experienced in maritime law, will work hard to make sure your case is resolved quickly and will aim to get you the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident, email us or call 734-720-4445 immediately to discuss your rights. From our office in Ann Arbor, we represent clients throughout Michigan.