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Lakeville is aptly named. Our city sits right at the edge of some of the most accessible boating areas in the Twin Cities metro area. Every year, the lakes of Dakota draw families from all across the state.
For most, that time on the water is exactly what they hoped for. Unfortunately, accidents do happen. And when something goes wrong, it can happen fast. A collision, a sudden capsize, a propeller strike, or a passenger thrown overboard can all leave families dealing with serious injuries, unexpected medical costs, and questions about what comes next.
Minnesota law gives you the right to pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Since 1952, SiebenCarey has represented thousands of injured Minnesotans in their time of need. We are standing by to help you understand your rights and get the compensation you're owed.
With so many boats on the waters around Lakeville, accidents are inevitable. These accidents impact real families, cause real harm, and leave victims with consequences that can last years.
Alcohol is a leading factor in fatal boating accidents nationally, and Minnesota is no exception. Operator inattention, excessive speed, and failure to follow navigation rules account for a significant share of injuries on the water. And every year, people are seriously hurt simply because they weren't wearing a life jacket.
If you or someone in your family was injured on the water due to someone else's negligence, you have legal rights worth protecting. SiebenCarey is here to help you get justice and win fair compensation for your losses.
Understanding Minnesota's boating regulations matters for two reasons: they define what safe and legal operation looks like, and violations of those rules can be powerful evidence of negligence in an injury claim.
Alcohol is involved in roughly 30% percent of fatal boating accidents in Minnesota. Operating a watercraft with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher is illegal, carrying the same legal weight as drunk driving. On the water, impairment is amplified by sun, wind, motion, and dehydration, making alcohol even more dangerous on a boat than behind a steering wheel.
As of July 1, 2025, Minnesota began requiring watercraft operator permits for boaters born after June 30, 2004. The requirement will expand to older age groups through 2028, eventually applying to everyone born after June 30, 1987. The permit requires completing an approved boater safety course. Operating without a required permit is a violation that can factor into liability when accidents occur.
Children under 12 cannot legally operate a personal watercraft or any motorboat with a motor exceeding 75 horsepower. Operators between 12 and 21 must have a valid watercraft operator's permit to operate a PWC. These restrictions exist because young operators often lack the judgment and physical ability to handle powerful watercraft safely.
Every boat must carry an approved life jacket for each person on board. Children under 10 are required to wear a life jacket at all times while the vessel is underway. PWC operators and anyone being towed behind a boat must also wear one. Failure to comply with these requirements can establish negligence in an accident claim.
Minnesota was the first state in the country to require carbon monoxide detectors in motorboats with enclosed accommodation compartments. The law, named after 7-year-old Sophia Baechler, who died of CO poisoning on Lake Minnetonka, took effect in 2021. Boat owners who fail to equip their vessels with functioning CO detection systems are in violation of state law and can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Call 952-469-2288 to claim your free consultation.
SiebenCarey has been representing injured Minnesotans since 1952. Boating accident cases require fast action, local knowledge, and the resources to go up against insurance companies and manufacturers. We bring all three.
Our attorneys understand the Twin Cities boating scene, the lakes that Dakota County families rely on, and the legal landscape that governs watercraft accidents in Minnesota. That local knowledge shapes how we investigate cases, identify the responsible parties, and build a case that holds up in court.
Boating accident evidence disappears quickly. Weather, currents, and water traffic can alter or destroy physical evidence within hours, all while witnesses pack up and leave. We respond immediately to document scenes, preserve watercraft, and lock in witness statements before critical details are lost.
These cases require marine accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and investigators familiar with DNR and Coast Guard regulations. We fund complete investigations from the start, so cost never limits what we can do for you.
Insurance companies settle faster and more fairly when they know the other side is prepared to go to court. Our Civil Trial Specialists have taken boating and personal injury cases to trial throughout Minnesota and won. That reputation matters at the negotiating table.
We work on contingency. All case costs, expert fees, and attorney fees are covered by us until your case is resolved. If we don't win, you owe nothing.
Our preparation is what makes that happen on your terms.
Boating accidents take many forms, and the injuries they cause vary just as widely. These are the types of incidents our attorneys handle most often.
Boat-to-boat collisions and impacts with fixed objects like docks, buoys, or submerged hazards are among the most common causes of serious injuries on Minnesota lakes. High speeds, alcohol, operator distraction, and crowded waterways all increase the risk. When two boats collide at speed, the forces involved can be catastrophic for everyone on board.
Few boating injuries are as devastating as propeller strikes. When a passenger falls overboard, a swimmer drifts too close, or a tuber goes under near a running engine, the results can include severe lacerations, loss of limbs, and death. These accidents are often the result of missing engine cutoff switches, operator inattention, or inadequate safety protocols.
Sudden capsizing or ejection from a moving vessel can turn a fun outing into a life-threatening situation. Overloading, sharp turns, rough weather, and improper weight distribution can all cause boats to capsize. Being thrown from a boat at speed can cause spinal injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries, even before a victim hits the water.
Jet skis and other personal watercraft are fast, agile, and widely used on Dakota County lakes. They're also involved in a disproportionate share of accidents. Their speed and maneuverability make them difficult to control for inexperienced operators, and collisions with swimmers, docks, or other watercraft can cause serious harm.
Carbon monoxide from a boat's exhaust is invisible, odorless, and potentially lethal. Passengers in enclosed cabin areas or swimming near the stern of a running engine can be exposed to dangerous levels without any warning. Minnesota's Sophia's Law now requires CO detectors in motorboats with enclosed compartments, but not all boats comply, and not all victims know the risks.
Slippery decks, sudden maneuvers, and standing in moving boats all create fall hazards. A passenger who hits their head on the hull before entering the water, or who falls into cold Minnesota lakes in spring or fall, faces serious risks beyond the initial impact. Hypothermia can set in quickly, even for strong swimmers.
Large vessels create substantial wakes that can swamp smaller boats, throw passengers overboard, or cause collisions when an operator loses control in turbulent water. Failing to reduce speed in no-wake zones or creating excessive wakes near docks is a recipe for disaster.
Responsibility for a boating accident doesn't always rest with a single person. Minnesota law allows injured victims to pursue claims against everyone whose negligence contributed to the accident.
Operator error is the most common cause of boating accidents. Under Minnesota law, negligence could mean:
Under Minnesota Statute 86B, operators and owners are jointly and severally liable for injuries caused by negligent watercraft operation.
Ownership carries legal responsibility in Minnesota. Owners who lend their boats to unqualified or intoxicated operators, fail to maintain their vessels, or allow passengers to operate watercraft with known defects can be held liable even if they weren't present during the accident.
When a defective engine, steering system, fuel component, or safety device contributes to an accident, the manufacturer may face a product liability claim. Equipment failures that could have been prevented through proper design or manufacturing fall squarely on the companies that made and sold those products.
Businesses that rent watercraft are required to maintain their vessels, provide proper safety equipment, and ensure renters understand how to operate the boat safely. When a rental company skips maintenance, ignores safety requirements, or rents to unqualified operators, they can be held responsible for resulting injuries.
Property owners and marina operators have a duty to maintain safe conditions on their docks and facilities. Poor lighting, unmarked hazards, or negligent dock maintenance that contributes to an accident can expose marina operators to liability.
Minnesota's dram shop laws allow injury claims against establishments that continue serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons who later cause boating accidents. If a bar or restaurant over-served someone who then got behind the wheel of a boat and hurt someone, that establishment may share legal responsibility for the resulting harm.
We move fast so evidence is preserved and your rights are protected. Call 952-469-2288 for a free consultation.
Winning a boating accident claim takes solid evidence and a legal team that knows how to put it all together.
Boating accident scenes change fast. Currents shift, weather alters conditions, and other watercraft disturb physical evidence within hours. Our investigations move quickly to document the accident scene, photograph vessel damage, and identify witnesses before critical details disappear.
We examine whether all parties complied with Minnesota DNR regulations, Coast Guard requirements, and applicable local ordinances. Violations of these rules, whether a missing CO detector, an unlicensed operator, or an improperly maintained vessel, can provide direct evidence of negligence.
Complex boating cases require specialists. We work with marine accident reconstruction experts who can explain how and why an accident occurred, medical professionals who document your injuries and their long-term impact, and economic analysts who calculate the full financial cost of what you've been through.
Boating accident coverage varies widely. Liability may fall under homeowners' policies, dedicated marine insurance, or umbrella coverage. We identify every available source of compensation and make sure proper claim procedures are followed so nothing is left on the table.
Some boating accidents involve federal maritime law, particularly those on navigable waterways or involving commercial vessels. Our attorneys understand how state and federal rules interact and pursue all available legal avenues on your behalf.
Minnesotans who have been injured in a boating accident are entitled to seek compensation for a wide range of damages.
Boating injuries often require emergency care, surgeries, extended hospitalization, and ongoing rehabilitation. We work with medical economists to calculate total lifetime treatment costs so that settlements and verdicts account for everything you'll need, including future care.
When injuries keep you from working, those lost wages deserve compensation. When they permanently affect what you're able to do professionally, you may also be entitled to compensation for reduced long-term earning capacity, including lost benefits and career opportunities the injury took away.
The physical pain and emotional trauma that follow a serious boating accident are real and compensable under Minnesota law. For victims who nearly drowned or witnessed someone die on the water, the psychological impact can be lasting and severe.
For Dakota County families who built their summers around time on the water, losing the ability to boat, swim, or participate in lake activities represents a significant reduction in quality of life. These losses are recognized and compensable under Minnesota law.
Serious injuries can affect entire households. Spouses lose companionship and practical support, children miss out on parental involvement, and everyone struggles to rebuild their life together. Minnesota's loss of consortium provisions allow family members to seek compensation for how the injury changed their lives as well.
When a defendant's conduct was particularly reckless, such as operating a boat while heavily intoxicated or ignoring known safety defects, Minnesota courts can award punitive damages beyond standard compensation. This is designed to punish negligent behavior and deter others from making the same mistake.
Talk to a SiebenCarey attorney before accepting anything.
The steps you take after a boating accident can significantly affect both your health and your ability to recover fair compensation. Here's what to do.
A serious boating accident can upend your life in an instant. Medical bills pile up, income stops, and insurance companies move fast to limit what they pay. You don't have to face that alone.
SiebenCarey's Lakeville team is ready to investigate your case, identify every responsible party, and pursue the full compensation you're owed under Minnesota law.
Call 952-469-2288 for a free consultation, available 24/7. You pay nothing unless we win.
20876 Holyoke Avenue, P.O. Box 1253Lakeville, Minnesota
Phone: 952-469-2288Fax: 952-469-4029
Also awarded in:
2027, 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.
5 of our attorneys have been recognized as Attorneys of the Year
Also awarded in:
2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Also awarded in:
2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
7 Certified Civil Trial Law Specialists, Minnesota Bar Association
3 Board Certified Trial Advocates, National Board of Trial Advocacy.
