Boat Accident Attorney in Denver

Why Hire a Boating Injury Attorney?

At Conduit Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that serious boating injuries can take on you and your family. Elliot Singer has recovered more than $50 million for clients over his career. Boating accidents often involve complex liability questions: who was operating, who owned or rented out the vessel, whether anyone had been drinking, and whether a towed rider, swimmer, or paddler was in the wrong place or the boat was. Colorado's modified comparative negligence law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111) means that even if you bear partial fault, you may still recover damages, as long as you are less than 50% responsible. We pursue both economic and non-economic damages for your losses. Boating claims are one part of our Denver personal injury lawyer practice.

Colorado Boating Accidents by the Numbers

The U.S. Coast Guard's 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics (the most recent edition) counted 44 recreational boating incidents in Colorado in 2024, with 21 deaths, up from 35 incidents and 15 deaths in 2023. Nationally, the Coast Guard verified 3,887 incidents involving 556 deaths and 2,170 injuries in 2024.

• Alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents, listed as the primary factor in 20% of deaths where the cause was known.
• Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure, and navigation rules violations were the top five primary contributing factors in incidents.
• Collisions (with vessels, objects, or groundings) were the most frequent first event, accounting for 56% of incidents and 54% of injuries.
• Drowning was the cause in 76% of deaths where the cause was known, and 87% of those drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket where use was known.
• Propeller strikes occurred in 169 incidents, causing 30 deaths and 158 injuries.

Those factors are also the questions a boating injury claim turns on: who was watching, who was impaired, who was trained, and whether the boat and its equipment did what they were supposed to do.

Who May Be Responsible for a Boating Injury

• The operator who was inattentive, speeding, impaired, or ignoring navigation rules near swimmers, paddlers, or other boats.
• The boat owner who lent the vessel to someone unqualified. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says motorboat and personal watercraft operators must be at least 18, and 14- to 17-year-olds must complete a state-approved boating safety course before operating a motorized vessel.
• A rental or tour business that skipped instruction, supplied unsafe equipment, or rented to an impaired or unqualified operator.
• A manufacturer of a defective hull, engine, steering system, or life jacket. These claims overlap with our Denver product liability lawyer work.
• A property or marina operator whose dock, ramp, or facility was unsafe; see our premises liability page.

What Colorado Law Requires After a Boating Accident

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, operators involved in a boating accident must stop at the scene and assist others if they can safely do so, and must exchange names, addresses, vessel identification, and the owner's name if the owner is not the operator. Deaths or disappearances should be reported immediately to the nearest law enforcement officer.

Each operator must also file a Boating Accident Report with Colorado Parks and Wildlife within five days if the incident results in a death or disappearance from a vessel, an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, or property damage over $2,000 or the complete loss of a vessel. CPW notes that failing to file is a misdemeanor. These reports, along with any ranger or sheriff's investigation, are often the first records we request.

Boating Under the Influence in Colorado

Colorado Parks and Wildlife explains that boating under the influence is treated the same as driving under the influence under Colorado law, except for the penalties. A first offense can bring five days to six months in jail, a $100 to $1,000 fine, up to two years of probation, and a mandatory three-month ban on boating in state waters. A criminal BUI case is separate from your injury claim, but the evidence it produces, such as test results and officer observations, can matter a great deal to proving fault.

Our Approach

• Prompt investigation of the scene, the vessel, and the CPW or law-enforcement report
• Medical and accident reconstruction expert testimony
• Careful negotiation with insurance companies
• Preparation for trial when a case needs it

Types of Compensation We Pursue

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Rehabilitation costs

Boating accidents can cause near-drowning, propeller lacerations, and head and spinal trauma. Our Denver brain injury attorney and spinal injury pages explain how those claims are built. When a boating accident takes a life, the family's claim is governed by Colorado's wrongful death rules; see our Denver wrongful death lawyer page.

Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are capped at $1,500,000 for claims that accrue on or after January 1, 2025, and actions filed during 2025.

No Fees Unless We Win

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay attorney fees unless we secure a settlement or verdict in your favor. This arrangement allows you to focus on your recovery while the legal team handles the complex aspects of your case.

Contact Us Today

Colorado generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (C.R.S. § 13-80-102), with three years for motor vehicle accidents (C.R.S. § 13-80-101). Time is critical: witnesses on the water scatter quickly, and boats get repaired or sold. A free, no-obligation consultation can help you understand your options and determine the best path forward for your specific situation.