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Minneapolis sits at the heart of Minnesota's lake country, with hundreds of thousands of residents heading to nearby waters every summer. Lake Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, and countless other destinations draw boaters from across the Twin Cities metro area looking for weekend fun.
But crowded waterways create serious risks. For more than 70 years, SiebenCarey has represented Minneapolis families hurt by negligent boaters, defective watercraft, and dangerous conditions on Minnesota lakes. Our downtown legal team knows the Twin Cities boating scene and the specific challenges victims face when accidents happen far from home on remote waterways.
Contact our Minneapolis office for a free consultation about your boating accident case.
Our attorneys understand the Twin Cities boating culture. From Lake Minnetonka's busy summer traffic to quiet fishing spots in northern lakes, we've handled cases throughout the region. That local knowledge matters when reconstructing accidents and understanding what went wrong.
Boating accidents often happen on remote lakes hours from Minneapolis. Evidence disappears quickly due to currents, weather, and water traffic. Our team responds immediately to document scenes, preserve watercraft, and secure witness statements before crucial details are lost.
These cases require marine accident reconstruction experts, boat engineering specialists, and investigators who understand waterway regulations. We have the budget to fund complete investigations and hire the experts needed to prove your case.
We've recovered significant compensation for Minneapolis boating accident victims and their families. Our attorneys have successfully negotiated with insurance companies and, when necessary, taken cases to trial to secure fair verdicts.
Boating accident cases can take time to resolve. We work on contingency, which means you pay nothing unless we win. All investigation costs, expert fees, and case expenses come from us, not from your savings while you're recovering.
Alcohol accounted for 20% of fatal boating accidents nationwide in 2024. Minnesota law prohibits operating watercraft with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, the same as driving a car. Unfortunately, many boaters underestimate how alcohol affects them on the water, where sun, motion, and dehydration amplify impairment.
Summer weekends see thousands of boats on Minnesota lakes near Minneapolis. Lake Minnetonka alone can have hundreds of watercraft out on busy holidays, creating congestion that increases collision risks. Add in inexperienced operators, alcohol consumption, and varying weather conditions, and you have a recipe for serious accidents.
These accidents often occur when passengers stand up in moving boats, reach for items in the water, or lose balance during sudden maneuvers. Slippery surfaces can also cause falls. When passengers hit their head on the boat, the damage can be severe. Falling into the water can be a serious risk too, as cold temperatures in Minnesota lakes may lead to shock and hypothermia.
Overloading, improper weight distribution, rough weather, or sudden turns can flip boats and throw occupants into cold water. Canoes and kayaks are particularly vulnerable, especially in wind or waves.
Swimmers too close to operating boats, passengers falling overboard, or people being struck while tubing can suffer devastating propeller injuries. These accidents cause severe lacerations, amputations, and traumatic brain injury.
In 2018, Minnesota became the first state to require carbon monoxide detectors in motorboats with enclosed accommodation compartments. This is commonly known as Sophia’s Law, after 7-year-old Sophia Baechler died from CO poisoning on Lake Minnetonka. Exhaust leaks can create deadly conditions without obvious warning signs, and boat owners are responsible for keeping their passengers safe.
Jet skis and similar craft are popular on Twin Cities lakes but create unique hazards. Their speed, maneuverability, and open design leave operators vulnerable when collisions occur or when riders are thrown from the craft.
Beyond alcohol, several other factors frequently contribute to serious boating incidents in the Twin Cities area:
Let Minnesota’s most experienced injury firm help you move forward. Call 612-333-4500 today.
Most boating accidents result from operator error. Drunk boating, excessive speed, failure to maintain proper lookout, ignoring navigation rules, or operating without adequate experience all constitute negligence. Minnesota law holds operators accountable when their careless actions cause injuries.
Owners who allow intoxicated people to operate their boats, fail to maintain vessels properly, or provide watercraft with known defects can be held liable for resulting accidents. Minnesota law recognizes that boat ownership carries responsibilities beyond just physical control.
Businesses that rent boats must provide properly maintained vessels and ensure renters receive adequate safety instruction. When rental companies skip maintenance or fail to prepare customers properly, they can be held responsible for accidents.
Defective boats, engines, steering systems, or safety equipment can cause catastrophic failures. When design flaws or manufacturing defects contribute to accidents, product liability claims may be an option.
Minnesota's dram shop laws allow claims against establishments that overserve obviously intoxicated patrons who later cause boating accidents. If a bar continued serving someone who was clearly drunk, then that person caused a boat crash, the establishment may share liability.
Property owners and marina operators must maintain safe conditions, provide adequate lighting, warn of hazards, and ensure docks and facilities meet safety standards. Negligent maintenance can create liability for any accidents that result.
Our Minneapolis attorneys will investigate every potential source of recovery for your claim.
Under Minnesota law, you can seek compensation for the full value of your damages after a boating accident. This includes:
Boating injuries often require immediate emergency care, surgeries, extended hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. We work with medical economists to calculate total lifetime medical costs, ensuring settlements cover current bills and all future care needs.
When injuries keep you from working or force you into lower-paying positions, that income loss deserves compensation. We document wages already lost and calculate permanent reductions in earning capacity, including lost benefits, retirement contributions, and career opportunities that your injuries hindered.
The sudden, traumatic nature of boating accidents creates both physical pain and psychological trauma. Minnesota law recognizes compensation for pain, suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. For victims who nearly drowned or witnessed loved ones die, PTSD from water-related trauma can be severe and long-lasting.
Boating injuries can prevent activities you once loved. For Minneapolis families who regularly enjoyed lake activities, losing the ability to boat, swim, or participate in water sports represents a significant quality of life impact deserving compensation.
Spouses lose companionship and assistance when partners suffer serious injuries. Children miss out on parental involvement in activities. Minnesota's loss of consortium laws allow family members to recover compensation for how injuries affected their relationships.
When defendants' conduct was particularly reckless, such as drunk boating or ignoring obvious safety hazards, Minnesota law allows punitive damages. These damages punish dangerous behavior and deter others from similar conduct.
Schedule your free consultation today.
Ensure all injured parties are out of the water and receiving medical attention. Even minor-seeming injuries can be serious, and near-drowning victims need immediate evaluation for complications. Minnesota law requires operators to stop and render aid when it's safe to do so.
Operators must immediately report accidents involving injury or death to the county sheriff's office. File all required reports with the Minnesota DNR, but avoid giving detailed statements until you've consulted with an attorney.
If safely possible, take photos of boat damage, the accident scene, weather conditions, and injuries. Note water conditions, visibility, time of day, and any factors that contributed to the accident. This evidence can disappear quickly on the water.
Other boaters, passengers, or people on shore may have seen what happened. Get their contact information immediately. Witnesses often leave the area quickly, making them difficult to locate later.
Don't allow boats to be repaired or altered before experts can examine them. Damaged vessels, navigation equipment, and safety gear provide crucial evidence about what went wrong and who's responsible.
Notify your insurance company about the accident, but don't provide recorded statements or accept quick settlement offers until you've spoken with an attorney. Insurance companies use early statements to minimize or deny claims.
Early legal intervention protects your rights and ensures evidence is preserved. Call our Minneapolis office at 612-333-4500 before critical e
Our legal team has decades of experience negotiating fair settlements for Minnesota accident victims.
We’re here to help. Reach out now.
Minnesota prohibits operating watercraft with a BAC of .08% or higher. Penalties include fines, potential jail time, and loss of boating privileges. More importantly for victims, OWI violations provide strong evidence of negligence in injury claims.
Starting July 1, 2025, Minnesota requires watercraft operator permits for some adults and all youth who operate motorboats. This new law aims to improve safety through education and training.
Children under 12 cannot operate personal watercraft or motorboats with engines over 75 horsepower. These restrictions exist because young operators often lack the judgment and physical capabilities to handle powerful watercraft safely.
All children under 10 must wear properly-fitted life jackets. Every boat must have a readily accessible life jacket for each person aboard. Personal watercraft operators and passengers must wear life jackets at all times. Violations of these requirements can establish negligence when accidents occur.
Minnesota became the first state to require carbon monoxide detectors in motorboats with enclosed accommodation compartments. This law, passed after a child's death on Lake Minnetonka, took effect May 1, 2021.
Boating accidents can destroy lives in moments. Medical bills pile up, income stops, and insurance companies start pushing inadequate settlements before you've even left the hospital. Don't face this alone.
At SiebenCarey, our attorneys have spent over 70 years representing injury victims throughout Minnesota. We know the laws, we know the lakes, and we know how to win these cases. We even work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Evidence disappears quickly after boating accidents. Witness memories fade. Insurance companies work fast to minimize their exposure. The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.
Free consultations available 24/7.
Contact SiebenCarey today.
901 S Marquette Avenue, Suite 500Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Phone: 612-333-4500Fax: 612-333-5970
Also awarded in:
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:
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Also awarded in:
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.
