Galveston Boat Accident Lawyer | Jet Ski & Boating Injuries

Legal Help After a Boating Accident in Galveston

A day on the water should not end in an ambulance. If you were hurt on a boat, jet ski, fishing charter, or party barge in Galveston, The Daspit Law Firm can help you hold the operator, owner, or company responsible. Our Galveston boat accident lawyer team handles the legal and insurance work while you recover.

Free consultations are available 24/7 at (281) 748-2044. We take boating cases on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless we win. We can meet you at home or in the hospital, in English or Spanish.

Why Boating Accidents Happen Around Galveston Island

Galveston's waters are busy. Recreational boats share Galveston Bay, West Bay, and Offatts Bayou with commercial ships headed to the Port of Galveston, cruise ships at the terminals, and the Bolivar Peninsula ferries crossing Bolivar Roads. Clear Lake and Kemah add heavy weekend traffic to the north.

Common Causes

•      Operator inattention or failure to keep a proper lookout

•      Boating while intoxicated

•      Excessive speed in crowded areas, near docks, or in no-wake zones

•      Inexperienced operators, including renters with little or no training

•      Ignoring right-of-way rules near ship channels and ferry lanes

•      Overloading and too few life jackets on board

•      Engine, fuel system, or steering failures

•      Sudden weather changes on the Gulf

Types of Watercraft Cases We Handle

•      Collisions between recreational boats

•      Jet ski and personal watercraft crashes, including beach rentals

•      Fishing charter and party boat injuries

•      Falls overboard and propeller strikes

•      Parasailing and tubing accidents

•      Injuries at marinas and on docks

Who Can Be Held Liable

Responsibility depends on who controlled the vessel and what went wrong. Possible defendants include:

•      The boat operator who acted carelessly

•      The boat owner, if they let an untrained or impaired person operate

•      Charter, tour, and rental companies that failed to train staff, maintain vessels, or give safety briefings

•      Manufacturers of defective hulls, engines, steering systems, or safety gear

•      Marina owners responsible for unsafe docks or fueling areas

When equipment fails, the claim may overlap with our Galveston product liability work. Unsafe docks and marina walkways can raise premises liability issues.

Texas and Maritime Law in Boat Accident Cases

Texas Boating Rules

Texas Penal Code §49.06 makes boating while intoxicated a crime, just like drunk driving on land. Texas also requires boater education for many operators born on or after September 1, 1993; details are on the Texas Parks and Wildlife boater education page. Breaking safety rules can be strong evidence of negligence. For more on impaired operators, see our page on drunk and intoxicated driving.

When Federal Maritime Law Applies

Many accidents on navigable waters, such as Galveston Bay and the Gulf, fall under federal general maritime law. In those cases, the deadline to file an injury lawsuit is generally three years instead of the usual two-year Texas deadline. Other cases follow Texas law, where you can recover if you were not more than 50% at fault.

Limitation of Liability Act

Vessel owners sometimes ask a federal court to limit what they owe to the value of the boat after the accident. This is an old federal law with strict time rules, and it can come up quickly after a serious crash. Having a lawyer involved early helps protect your claim. If you were working on the water when you were hurt, see our maritime and offshore injury page.

Injuries and Damages

Boating accidents can cause drowning and near-drowning, brain injuries, spinal cord damage, propeller lacerations, amputations, burns, and broken bones. Compensation may include medical care, lost income, future earning capacity, pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement. For life-changing harm, see our catastrophic injury page. Families who lost someone may have a Galveston wrongful death claim.

What to Do After a Boating Accident

•      Get medical help and make sure everyone is accounted for

•      Report the accident; serious boating accidents in Texas must be reported to Texas Parks and Wildlife

•      Get the operator's and owner's names, the boat's registration number, and insurance details

•      Take photos of the vessels, the water conditions, and your injuries

•      Save charter tickets, rental contracts, and any waivers you signed

•      Talk to a lawyer before giving statements to an insurer or signing anything new

A signed waiver from a rental or charter company does not always end your claim. We review those documents as part of every case. Courts look at what the waiver says, whether it was clear, and whether the company's conduct went beyond ordinary carelessness.

How The Daspit Law Firm Helps

Founding attorney John Daspit spent years as an insurance defense lawyer before representing injured people. He knows how marine insurers evaluate claims and how they try to shift blame. We gather evidence fast, work with marine experts when needed, and prepare each case as if it will go to trial.

Contact a Galveston Boating Accident Attorney

If you were hurt on the water, call (281) 748-2044 any time or request your free consultation online. You owe no fee unless we win. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a boat accident claim in Galveston?

It depends on which law applies. Many accidents on navigable waters fall under federal maritime law, which generally allows three years. Cases under Texas law usually have a two-year deadline. Because the rules can overlap, and vessel owners may try to limit liability early, it is best to talk to a lawyer soon.

Can I sue a jet ski rental company after an accident?

Often, yes. Rental companies can be liable for poorly maintained machines, missing safety briefings, or renting to someone they should not have. Waivers do not always protect them, especially from their own serious negligence. We review the rental contract and the facts to see what claims are available.

What if I was a passenger on a friend's boat?

You can still bring a claim if the operator was careless. In most cases, the claim goes against the boat owner's insurance, not your friend personally. Many homeowners and boat policies cover this kind of injury. Talking with a lawyer can help you understand your options without damaging the friendship.

Is boating while intoxicated treated like drunk driving?

Yes. Texas law treats boating while intoxicated much like driving while intoxicated. In an injury case, an operator's intoxication can be strong evidence of negligence and, in some cases, gross negligence, which may allow exemplary damages under Texas law. Arrest records and blood test results can become important evidence in the civil case.

What does it cost to hire your firm for a boat accident case?

Nothing up front. We handle boating cases on a contingency fee, so our fee is a percentage of the money we recover. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. Your first consultation is free and available 24 hours a day at (281) 748-2044.