New York Boating Accident Lawyer

New York City is surrounded by waterways, and residents and visitors alike rely on boats, ferries, and other watercraft for both transportation and recreation. The Hudson and East Rivers, in particular, see heavy commercial traffic, making them especially hazardous. To address these risks, the NYPD maintains a specialized Harbor Unit that responds to boating accidents and other water emergencies throughout the city.

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Sameer Chopra

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Sameer Chopra is a founding partner at our firm and a successful trial lawyer with 17 years of experience standing up to large corporations, government entities, and wealthy landlords on behalf of injured individuals. He is a true New Yorker and recognized as one of the Nation’s Top One Percent of attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

He was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2017-2019 and then became a Super Lawyer from 2020 to present. He was also recognized as the 2021 Attorney of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers and was selected by Top Attorneys in North America as a distinguished Exclusive Presidents Circle Attorney for his continued excellence within the legal community. Sameer has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts, including significant verdicts against the City of New York and/or their affiliated agencies, and independent insurance carriers.

Content Last Updated: October 8, 2025

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If you were hurt in a boating accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary recovery for your damages. At Chopra & Nocerino, we are real New Yorkers with deep local knowledge of the City’s waterways and the types of accidents that can happen. Offering multi-language support, our New York boating accident lawyer team will work hard to obtain fair compensation for your injuries.

Call (855) NYC-HURT to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.

How Do New York's New Boating Laws Impact Your Accident Claim?

Signed in 2019, Brianna’s Law requires all operators of motorized watercraft in New York State to complete an approved boating course by the end of 2025. If a boater fails to complete a course and obtain a safety certificate, they are not in compliance with the law and can incur a monetary fine. In addition, their violation of the law can strengthen a personal injury claim if they cause you to suffer an injury.

Since there is no mandatory boat insurance requirement in New York, taking legal action is crucial if you have sustained an injury in a boating accident. Since the financial responsibility for your injuries is shifted to the boat owner or operator—rather than an insurance company—filing a lawsuit can hold them accountable for your damages.

Our boating accident lawyer team understands the nuances of claims involving uninsured operators. We will strive to secure justice on your behalf for the harm you endured as a result of their negligence.

Why Choose Chopra & Nocerino?

If you were hurt in a watercraft accident, having an experienced New York boating accident lawyer by your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your claim. Offering legal services in 11 languages, our firm is deeply familiar with New York City’s waterways and the hazards that can be present on the vessels that travel them. In addition to our local insight, our lawyers have extensive knowledge of the state and federal laws that apply to boating accidents, including the Jones Act.

We provide every client with the personalized time and attention they deserve, boasting a longstanding history of securing successful outcomes for a wide range of accidents. Some of our recent notable results include:

$19.5 million for a middle-aged woman seriously injured in a commercial truck accident.
$10 million for a 77-year-old who sustained leg and neck injuries after her vehicle was involved in a collision with a bus.
$4.75 million settlement for a construction worker who suffered catastrophic injuries in a scaffolding collapse accident.

Types of New York Boating Accidents We Handle

Our firm handles a variety of boating accident cases. We represent clients who have suffered injuries in accidents involving the following:

The Staten Island Ferry: We represent clients for injuries that arise due to accidents on the Staten Island Ferry.
The NYC Ferry: Our New York boating accident lawyer team can help you recover your rightful compensation if you were hurt on the NYC Ferry due to operator negligence.
Jet skis: We can assist you with recovering your damages if you were in a jet ski accident caused by a defective part or the operator’s recklessness.
Recreational boats: If you were hurt as a passenger on a recreational boat, you may be entitled to pursue a lawsuit against the boat owner, operator, or manufacturer, depending upon how the accident occurred.
Charter boats: If an owner’s failure to maintain a charter boat—or an operator’s carelessness—caused you to suffer an injury, we can help you prove negligence.
Commercial vessels: Our lawyers can help you file a claim under the Jones Act if you were injured as a crew member on a commercial boat that was unseaworthy.

Proving Negligence After a New York Boat Accident

Boating accidents can be legally complex. Injury claims may be brought under either maritime law or New York State law, depending on where the accident occurred. While maritime law governs incidents on “navigable waters,” state law can apply as long as it does not conflict with federal maritime law.

In most cases involving recreational boats or transportation ferries, a negligence claim will fall under New York law. This requires proving the following elements:

Duty: You must show that the boat owner or operator had a duty to exercise reasonable care in preventing your injuries.
Breach: You must demonstrate that the responsible party breached their duty of care.
Causation: The boat owner or operator’s breach of duty must have been the direct cause of your injury.
Damages: You must show that you suffered an injury as a result of the accident.

Even if you were partly to blame for the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation under New York’s comparative negligence law. Your compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.

Negligence Per Se

If a boat owner or operator’s violation of a statute caused the accident, a victim can bring a claim under the doctrine of negligence per se. For instance, if they were operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or did not complete the required safety course in violation of Brianna’s Law, you do not need to establish the elements of negligence. A victim must simply show that the defendant violated a statute intended to protect them from harm. NYPD Harbor Unit reports can help to establish negligence per se by providing documentation of a violation of a safety law.

Compensation for NYC Boating Accident Victims

If you were injured in a boating accident caused by negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic damages under New York law. In limited cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious, New York law also allows for an award of punitive damages. These types of damages are meant to punish a defendant for their wrongdoing, rather than compensate the victim.

Economic Damages

Boating accident injuries can require extensive medical treatment and cause you to lose a significant amount of time from work. Economic damages cover the financial losses you incurred as a result of your injuries, including:

Unreimbursed medical expenses
Future medical costs
The costs of surgery and rehabilitation
Lost wages
Future loss of earnings
Out-of-pocket costs

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages for injuries suffered in a boating accident compensate for the impact the boating accident had on your life and livelihood. These damages can include compensation for:

Pain and suffering
Physical pain
Mental anguish
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Disfigurement
Permanent disability
Loss of consortium

Recovery Under the Jones Act

If you are a seaman injured at work because of your employer’s negligence or because the vessel was unseaworthy, you may have the right to pursue compensation under the Jones Act. This federal law allows seamen to hold their employers accountable for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

In addition, injured seamen are often entitled to “maintenance and cure” benefits regardless of fault. Maintenance helps cover your basic living expenses during recovery, while cure pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment tied to your injury.

Most Dangerous NYC Waterways

There are several waterways in NYC used for recreation and transportation that are known for being dangerous. Some of the most hazardous waterways include the Hudson River, the East River, the Long Island Sound, and Jamaica Bay.

According to statistics provided by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, there were nine recreational boating accidents in the five boroughs in 2024, with seven injuries and one fatality occurring. There were an additional 39 boating accidents in Nassau and Suffolk counties combined in the same year, resulting in 12 injuries.

What To Do After a Boating Accident in NYC

There are several steps you should take after a boating accident in NYC:

Notify authorities. File a report with the NYPD Harbor Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Gather evidence. Inform ferry staff, take photos or video if you can, and collect contact details for any witnesses.
Get medical care. Visit a hospital right away. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates important documentation for your claim.
Be cautious with statements. Don’t give written or recorded statements until you have spoken with an attorney.

There is a three-year statute of limitations in New York to bring a personal injury claim after a boating accident. If a government-owned or operated vessel was involved in the accident, there are other applicable deadlines. In these cases, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident, and a lawsuit must commence within one year and 90 days.

Contact our boating accident lawyer team as soon as possible to avoid pitfalls that could harm your claim.

FAQs About New York Boat Accidents

Do I Need Boat Insurance in NY?

Boat insurance is not required in New York for recreational boats. However, charter boats and other commercial operations must have specialized commercial boat insurance.

What if the Operator Who Caused the Accident Wasn't Certified Under Brianna's Law?

If a boat operator wasn’t certified under Brianna’s Law and caused an accident, this can be strong evidence of negligence in a personal injury lawsuit.

Can I Sue the NYC Ferry or Staten Island Ferry?

If you were hurt in a ferry accident involving the NYC Ferry or the Staten Island Ferry, you may file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your damages. However, there are different statutes of limitations and procedures involved in claims against a City entity or authority.

What if I'm Partly at Fault for My Boat Accident Injuries?

Even if you are 99 percent to blame for your boat accident injuries, you may still be entitled to compensation under New York’s comparative negligence law, minus your percentage of fault.

We Are Ready To Handle Your New York Boating Accident Case

At Chopra & Nocerino, we take a direct and honest approach to every case, focusing on securing the best possible outcome for our clients. Our team offers comprehensive guidance on boating accident claims, backed by a strong connection to New York City and its communities. We are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims and fighting aggressively on their behalf throughout all five boroughs..

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