What do I do if I am injured in a boating accident in NSW?

To claim compensation, you must have sustained an injury due to the use or operation of a boat in NSW. Any kind of user can claim the Act, including; the driver or the passengers. The system is no longer fault-based; anyone injured by a boat can claim statutory benefits no matter who caused the accident.

How do I claim compensation?

To make a claim, you must complete an Application for Personal Injury Benefits through the SIRA Website.

Boating Accident Lawyers

If you have been injured as a result of a boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The amount and type of compensation you can claim will depend on the circumstances of your accident.

If you have sustained an injury by another boat, or watercraft that was operated in a negligent manner and the operator of that boat or watercraft could have taken reasonable steps to avoid the accident, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Free Claim Check

5-Star Client
 Rating

Free Case
Assessments

Industry Experts: 20+ years of experience

No Win No Fee Guaranteed

5-Star Client
 Rating

Free Case
Assessments

Industry Experts: 20+ years of experience

No Win No Fee Guaranteed

Boating accident compensation claims

Boating accident compensation claims can occur in a number of circumstances and include the following:

An injury whilst a customer on a ferry
Being hit by a boat which should have seen and avoided you
Crush injuries between a boat and a pier
Injuries as a result of jet ski accidents
Injuries as a result of yachting accidents
Slip and falls on ferry or boat

Who is responsible for my injury sustained on a boat?

The boat operator or the person who is in charge of the boat will have responsibility for any personal injury sustained on the boat. The owner of a vessel may also owe a duty of care in some circumstances. It is not compulsory for people who own and operate boats to have insurance that covers them for any injury sustained due to their negligence. Nonetheless, the majority of commercial vessels and most recreational boats and jetskis do have public liability insurance that covers them in case they negligently injure a third party. In those cases, a claim is made against the public liability insurance policy.

What Type of Compensation Could I be Entitled to Receive?

If your injury was sustained as a result of the negligence of the boat operator, you are entitled to claim compensation as allowed under the Civil Liability Act, 2002 (NSW) and may be entitled to the following:

Pain and suffering – this is an amount of compensation for pain and suffering, loss of amenities, disfiguration, loss of life expectancy and loss of enjoyment of life.
Past and future loss of income – if you are employed at the time of the accident and cannot work as the same capacity as before the accident or at all, you are entitled to claim compensation for loss of wages, bonuses, overtime and superannuation.
Past and future out of pocket and medical expenses – if because of your injury you have incurred medical treatment, including travel expenses due to your injuries you are entitled to claim those expenses that you have incurred in the past and are likely to incur into the future. This would include the cost of doctors, physiotherapy, medication and hospital treatment.
Past and future care and assistance – you are entitled to claim any domestic or personal care and assistance such as help with gardening, cooking and washing that you may have needed both in the past and future because of the injuries you have sustained.

Find out more about our boating accident claim amounts

The Claims Process:

Obligation free meeting with Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law
Understand what you are entitled to, the process and timeframe
Proceed on a No Win No Fee basis
Your case is built using the best experts to achieve the optimum result
Your will be kept updated throughout the process
We will secure the financial result in the shortest possible timeframe

Chris H.

02:52 31 Jul 26

I engaged Garling & Co to guide me through a personal injury claim and could not have asked for better representation. Matthew was in a different class to the other lawyers I had spoken to, and that... was clear from our very first phone call. At that time, I was not even sure a claim would go ahead. It was just a call for advice and Matthew was generous with his time which created immediate trust.My options were always explained clearly and the decision was always left with me with no pressure to follow a particular course of action. Allison and the rest of Matthew's team are equally excellent and were on hand throughout, taking me through the process and passing on information at the right time.No hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking for the best advice in NSW.read more

Mik B.

01:18 31 Jul 26

Matthew and the team at Garling & Co have provided seamless care throughout my case. Keeping me updated and providing the best advice on my workers compensation matter. I felt will looked after and a... have high level of trust in my legal matters.read more

Donna M.

21:09 30 Jul 26

Kerry and her team are professional showing real empathy and kindness.Going through a severe psychological work injury is a deeply lonely, exhausting, and anxiety-ridden road. But from the moment... Kerry and her team stepped in, everything changed. They showed me the kind of genuine empathy, warmth, and human kindness that you just don't expect to find in the legal world. They truly, deeply understand the complexities of psychological injury law, but more importantly, they understand the human being behind the case. No matter how scrambled or anxious my mind was feeling, they always found the time to answer my frantic check-ins and left me feeling completely reassured and safe.What I respect most about them is their absolute integrity.Kerry has a brilliant legal mind specialising in personal injury,and only ever sticks strictly to the real facts and let the honest, medical truth do the talking.Thank you Kerry and Myriel.❣️read more

Jd A.

21:05 30 Jul 26

Like to thank Matthew and the team for their work and dedication ,special thanks to Matthew for being vigilant in helping me navigate the insurance battle.My advice to anyone is trust Matthew and... yourself, say vigilant.Thank youGarling and coDaveread more

Marshall B.

01:57 09 Jul 26

Mathew and his team were a pleasure. Very sympathetic to my situation and very easy to work with. Explained the process so well and always kept in contact and looked out for my best interest. I... wouldn't hesitate to recommend Garling & Co to anyone.read more

james C.

00:48 08 Jul 26

Can not thank the team here at Garling & Co enough. From all the extra help, to the end outcome was amazing. Mathew is very knowledgeable with the law and makes you feel very comfortable with... everything. Appreciate it all guys cheersread more

Anna C.

04:33 06 Jul 26

I can’t thank you enough for your support. Kerry and staff went above and beyond. Always kept me up to date.I recommend Garling and Co to anyone.Thank you Kerry and Staff

Ramez F.

07:51 19 May 26

I cannot highly recommend Garling & Co Lawyers enough for their incredible support during my recent case. From our first meeting, they provided clear, honest advice and guided me through a complex... legal process with absolute professionalism. Their dedication, attention to detail, and expertise in this matter was outstanding, ultimately securing an excellent outcome. If you need a reliable, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive solicitor, look no further than GARLING & CO LAWYERS.read more

P X

23:43 17 Apr 26

Very kind and respectful.

Alina S.

03:51 26 Mar 26

I can’t thank Mr Garling and his team enough for the incredible support they provided throughout my case. From the very beginning, they showed genuine compassion, professionalism, and a strong... commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for me - and the result they achieved in the end was far beyond my expectations!What stood out most was their clear and prompt communication, customer-focused approach and kindness. At every stage, they made sure I understood what was happening and what to expect. This made a very difficult and emotionally challenging process a lot more manageable. Whenever I had questions or felt anxious they were responsive, patient, and reassuring.Thanks to Mr Garling, I felt empowered and confident navigating the complex, opaque and overwhelming workers compensation system. His dedication and expertise, along with the hard work of his entire team, helped me achieve an outstanding outcome.I cannot recommend Garling & Co highly enough, to anyone in need of personal injury legal assistance, and especially those dealing with a workplace injury / workcover. You’ll be in very capable and caring hands!read more

Read all testimonials Payout case studies

Would you like assistance with your boating injury claim?

Complete our free, no obligation confidential case assessment form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Alternatively, we are available to talk by phone and email. Please contact our experienced accredited specialist personal injury lawyers to find out how we can help.

Call now to start your claim 02 8329 9500

No Win No Fee

You won’t be required to pay any fees until we win your case.

Industry Experts

We’re industry experts with over 20 years of experience.

Maximum Compensation

Our team of expert injury lawyers will help you get maximum compensation.