Do Lakes and Rivers Fall Under Maritime Law?

Maritime law is a complex and often misunderstood area of legal practice. Many people associate maritime law with oceans and seas, but what about lakes and rivers? Do they fall under maritime law as well? If you’ve suffered injuries on a body of water, you may wonder if you’re supposed to meet with a boat collision attorney who works in maritime law or a general personal injury lawyer. We can help; while the distinctions of maritime law can be difficult to discern, we’re here to help you navigate them. Call BoatLaw, LLP at 360-671-6711 to set up a consultation now.

Maritime law, sometimes called admiralty law, is a special type of law that deals with activities and problems that happen on the water. This area of law is important because it helps manage issues like shipping goods across territories, protecting those who work aboard or with vessels, and dealing with accidents that happen at sea. One question that often comes up with our boat collision law firm is whether or not accidents that happen on lakes and rivers are covered by maritime law.

Navigable Waters and Their Legal Implications

Navigable waters, a term you might associate more with the vast expanse of the sea, actually encompasses a much wider scope. By definition, these waters include any body capable of supporting navigation by vessels. A navigable body of water is one that connects to an interstate waterway, ebbs and flows with the tides, has the capacity to be navigable, and is actually navigable.

Many people assume that lakes and rivers are under the jurisdiction of the state or city in which they are held. While this may be the case sometimes, there’s also a good chance that your lake or river accident will be covered by maritime law, which can completely change the course of your legal claim.

How Maritime Law Applies to Lakes and Rivers

When a lake or river meets the qualifications needed to be a navigable body of water, it’s likely that maritime law applies to accidents, legal claims, and lawsuits arising from incidents on that body of water. In addition to meeting the criteria described above, lakes and rivers are usually considered navigable if they are used in interstate or international trade. This obviously includes rivers and lakes that span multiple states or countries, but what about those fully enclosed in one state?

Even here, there’s a good possibility that the body of water is a navigable body of water. If a river connects to a body of water that does cross into other states or countries, that river may be considered navigable by extension.

Specific Issues Involving Inland Waters

A number of issues can affect those who work and travel on lakes and rivers throughout the United States, and maritime law may apply to a variety of them. To start, if you meet with a boat collision attorney about an accident on a lake or river, they may be looking at maritime law when discussing your case—not necessarily the laws specific to the state in which you live. It’s not cut and dry, though. There are cases in which a victim may file in a state court, as this is permitted under certain clauses. That’s why we recommend speaking to a boat collision lawyer fairly early in this process. Rather than spending a substantial amount of time trying to figure out if the relevant body of water is or is not navigable, you can bring the details of your case to a boat collision law firm and get a straightforward answer.

This is a crucial step in this process. For example, if the state has jurisdiction over your case, you’ll need to follow your state-specific laws regarding lawsuits against the government. But if your case falls under the umbrella of maritime law, it will follow the standards and protocols of federal admiralty law.

Some of the issues that most often arise on lakes and rivers include boat collisions, cargo ship collisions, and commercial fishing injuries.

Reach Out to BoatLaw, LLP to Discuss Your Maritime Law Case

Wondering if your river or lake accident gives you a valid maritime injury case? It’s time to talk to our boat collision lawyers. Call BoatLaw, LLP at 360-671-6711 or fill out our online contact form to take the first step.

About the Author:

BoatLaw, LLP