Marina and Dock Injury Claims

Injuries at Marinas and Docks

Marinas and docks bring together moving boats, passengers, workers, equipment, fuel, electricity, and constantly changing water conditions. Even an ordinary walk from the shore to a vessel can become dangerous when a walkway is damaged, wet, poorly lit, or improperly maintained.

Some accidents happen directly on a dock or pier. Others occur while someone is boarding or leaving a vessel, handling equipment, fueling a boat, or standing near a vessel that unexpectedly moves.

The circumstances surrounding the injury can affect both who may be responsible and which laws apply.

Common Marina and Dock Hazards

Walking surfaces near the water are frequently exposed to rain, spray, algae, fuel, and other substances that may make them slippery. Loose boards, corrosion, protruding objects, and other poorly maintained surfaces can also create fall hazards. Occupational Safety and Health Organization (“OSHA”) recognizes these types of conditions as hazards on walking-working surfaces in workplaces. Other potential marina and dock hazards may include:

• Broken or uneven dock boards
• Slippery ramps and walkways
• Missing or damaged railings
• Unsafe gangways
• Poor lighting
• Unsecured ropes, hoses, or equipment
• Electrical equipment near the water
• Unmarked changes in elevation
• Dangerous gaps between vessels and docks
• Improperly secured boats
• Unsafe fueling areas
• Missing ladders or rescue equipment

Conditions can change throughout the day as tides, wakes, weather, and vessel movement affect floating docks and gangways.

Injuries While Boarding or Leaving a Boat

Moving between a dock and a vessel can be particularly hazardous. The boat may rise, fall, or move away from the dock while someone is stepping aboard. A gangway may also shift, become slippery, or fail if it is not properly secured or maintained.

In some maritime workplaces, federal safety rules specifically require certain gangways and ramps to be evenly placed, adequately strong, safely maintained, and securely fastened, highlighting the importance of safe access between vessels and shoreside structures.

Passengers may also be injured when a captain pulls away too early, approaches the dock too quickly, or fails to properly secure the vessel before allowing people to board or disembark.

Vessel-Related Dock Accidents

Not every marina injury is caused by the dock itself. A vessel operator may strike a pier, move unexpectedly, create a dangerous wake, or improperly position the boat during docking.

Federal law prohibits negligent vessel operation that endangers another person’s life, limb, or property.

A person standing on a dock could be thrown into the water, struck by the vessel, caught between the boat and pier, or injured by lines and other equipment during a poorly executed docking maneuver.

These cases may require investigators to examine both the condition of the marina and the actions of the vessel operator.

Potentially Responsible Parties

Liability depends on who controlled the dangerous condition and whether reasonable steps could have prevented the accident. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• A marina or dock owner
• The port owner
• A property management company
• A vessel owner or operator
• A charter or tour company
• A boat rental business
• A maintenance or repair contractor
• An employer
• An equipment manufacturer

More than one party may share responsibility. For example, a marina may have failed to repair a dangerous dock while a vessel operator’s unsafe maneuver also contributed to the injury.

Maritime Law and Marina Accidents

One of the more complicated questions after a marina or dock injury is determining which law applies.

An accident occurring near the water does not automatically become a maritime case. The Supreme Court has explained that maritime jurisdiction typically applies when the injury happens on navigable waters. But the Supreme Court generally considers both the location of the incident and its connection to traditional maritime activity. Injuries suffered on land may also fall within maritime jurisdiction in some circumstances when they are caused by a vessel operating on navigable waters.

As a result, an injury caused simply by defective property may raise different legal issues from an accident caused by a vessel while someone is standing on the same dock.

An attorney can review the location, vessel activity, ownership arrangements, and circumstances of the accident to determine which laws may apply.

Evidence After a Marina or Dock Injury

Conditions at a marina can change quickly. A broken board may be replaced, a spill may be cleaned, a vessel may leave, or surveillance footage may eventually be erased. Helpful evidence may include:

• Photographs and videos of the hazard
• Witness contact information
• Marina incident reports
• Medical records
• Surveillance footage
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Prior complaints about the condition
• Vessel information
• GPS or navigation data
• Weather and water conditions
• Communications with the marina, vessel owner, or insurer

Documenting the condition as soon as possible can help establish what the area looked like when the accident occurred.

Compensation After a Marina or Dock Injury

Serious marina accidents may cause broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, deep cuts, crush injuries, electrical injuries, or drowning.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, disability, future treatment, and other losses.

Morgan & Morgan May be Able to Help

Marina and dock accidents can involve property owners, vessel operators, businesses, insurers, and overlapping areas of law. Determining who was responsible often requires looking beyond where the injury happened to understand what actually caused it.

Morgan & Morgan’s maritime accident attorneys can investigate the incident, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and fight for the compensation you may deserve.

Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. With The Fee Is Free™, you pay nothing unless we win your case.