Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is the foremost admiralty and maritime law firm in the U.S. and worldwide. With over 187 years of combined maritime law experience, our attorneys have represented clients who have been injured on nearly every type of commercial and private vessel that exists, including riverboats. While the idea of traveling on a riverboat may conjure up images of an idyllic, slow-moving paddle vessel from the late 19th century, the modern riverboat presents numerous opportunities for accidents, injuries and even death.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed on a riverboat, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact the professional admiralty and maritime lawyers at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman P.A. for a free case evaluation. We can help you and your family obtain the maximum compensation available under the law.
High-Profile Riverboat Accidents
At LM&W, P.A., our attorneys keep abreast of incidents that relate to our unique area of the law. The following list is recent riverboat accidents that were covered by the media. Not all riverboat accidents are actionable, but many are when they include, in whole or in part, the fault of the owners or operators.
Injured, Missing and Dead Riverboat Passengers in Kentucky
April 19, 2021 – A tragedy occurred when a riverboat struck an unknown object in the Ohio River near Louisville, KY. Few details of the nature of the collision have been reported by the media, but at least one person, Hayden Spencer (20), was killed at the time of the impact and four others were injured. Initially, two passengers were listed as missing at the time of the accident, but the Louisville Metro Police recovered the body of another female passenger a few days later. The remaining passenger has still not been located. The safety of passengers is the primary responsibility of the boat captain and crew. While there are still a lot of unknown details about this fatal crash, the injured parties and family members of the deceased would likely have an actionable case under the applicable maritime law.
60 Dead in Overloaded Boating Accident in the Congo
February 15, 2021 –Few vessels designed to navigate rivers have the capacity to carry 700 passengers, not to mention cargo. This is, however, what is believed to be the cause of a fatal accident that occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo last February. While technically described as a whaling vessel, the boat was being used to transport goods and passengers on the Congo River. At the time of the reporting, 300 passengers were listed as survivors, 60 confirmed dead, and several were still missing. It is unclear from media reports whether the remaining passengers survived or were missing. Tragic boating accidents are all too common in this part of the world. LM&W is awaiting further details of the accident to determine the viability of the case, but the deaths appear to be the result of negligence on the part of the boat operators.
Jones Act Employee Drowns off Belle of Cincinnati
August 12, 2019 – A Kentucky man who was a Jones Act employee of BB Riverboats, Inc. was discovered to be missing. A few days later, his deceased body was recovered from the Ohio River. According to the family’s legal counsel, the victim fell between the boat and the dock as he was crossing. The family brought a wrongful death claim based on the claim that the vessel was unsafe and that they did not have safety measures in place to ensure that crewmembers could receive immediate help when injured. This is precisely the type of case that we have made our reputation on since 1971, and we hope that the lawsuit brings closure to the family, and full compensation under the maritime law.
Contact Our Award Winning Team Today
If you or someone you love was involved in a riverboat accident, it’s important to know that there may be legal recourse and a right to significant compensation. Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is an experienced maritime law firm with over 177 years of combined experience representing victims of accidents on the water. LM&W, P.A. has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Maritime Law and one of the “Best Law Firms”® by U.S. News and World Report. We are available 24 hours a day for your free case review by calling 877-233-1238. Speak with one of our lawyers today and we can help answer any questions about how these cases work.
