Boat Accidents

Boating and water sports, such as fishing, sailing, yachting, water skiing, jet skiing, scuba diving, wakeboarding and all other personal watercraft pursuits, are designed and intended to be fun. These various waterway activities are enormously popular and common up and down California, from our coastal shorelines to our mountain lakes. Unfortunately, on rivers, lakes, deltas, slews and bays everywhere throughout California, boating and other recreational water activities can - and do - result in serious accidents and associated injuries. Not surprisingly, these waterway injuries are frequently the result of watercraft collisions or malfunctions and can be devastating in scope. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a boating accident, you need and deserve experienced lawyers on your side. Call the San Mateo boat accident lawyers at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos to discuss the unique details of your case at (650) 345-8484 or email us today.

At the law firm of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, we have years of experience representing injured boaters, swimmers, crew members, and others who have been hurt in accidents on the numerous waterways found in abundance throughout California. Our greater Northern California area alone is home to a multitude of lakes, rivers and deltas, including:

• San Francisco Bay
• San Pablo Bay
• Lake Berryessa
• Lake Chabot
• Folsom Lake
• North Lake Tahoe
• South Lake Tahoe
• Russian River
• American River
• Sacramento River
• Lake Shasta
• Lake Del Valle
• Lake Oroville
• & Others

We work hard to recover monetary compensation for the injuries our clients have suffered that were caused by other boat or watercraft operators on these and other waterways. Unfortunately, it is often the case that these accidents result when watercraft operators are negligent or are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We Northern Californians are truly fortunate to have so many recreational waterways readily available to us, but this abundance of recreational riches can come at great cost when waterway accidents occur. The dedicated San Mateo boat accident attorneys at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos offer expertise in navigating the legal terrain of boating accidents.

It can be dangerous out on the lakes, rivers and high seas, and injuries or deaths suffered by passengers or crew members often involve complex issues of Maritime Law and Jones Act law that are daunting to injured parties or surviving family members. Our law firm is here to help.

Galine, Frye, Fitting and Frangos is currently involved in the tragic Conception dive boat fire that occurred in September 2019 off the central coast near Santa Cruz Island, where 34 people tragically lost their lives. This case involves complex issues of maritime law and negligence. Our dedicated team of lawyers will work to obtain answers for this tragedy that lead to 34 deaths.

Under California law, there is something called the "primary assumption of risk." This means that, if you are hurt while boating, water skiing, or engaging in another activity on the water and that accident happened due to negligence, you have the right to sue a third party. However, there are exceptions to this general rule.

For example: the boat accident lawyers at the San Mateo firm of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos recently settled a case for $4.55 million involving a boating accident in an estuary in San Francisco Bay. GFFF's client was being towed on a raft behind a boat driven by the defendant when the raft slammed into a bridge abutment. Our client suffered serious internal organ injuries and was hospitalized for nearly 3 months. Both our client and the driver of the boat had consumed alcohol before the accident, but our lawyers were able to obtain this substantial recovery for our injured client.

Our firm has represented individuals who have suffered broken bones, neck and back injuries, spinal cord injuries, head injuries and other types of injuries in boating accidents. We are also experienced at helping families file wrongful death lawsuits following fatal boat accidents.

At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, we represent individuals who have been injured in boating accidents throughout the Bay Area. Call the boat accident attorneys at our San Mateo firm at (650) 345-8484 to arrange a free case evaluation or contact us online to get more information.