Hurt on the water isn't like hurt on land. Neither is your lawyer.
BoatLaw, LLP represents injured seamen, fishermen, deckhands, and harbor workers under the Jones Act and general maritime law, a field our attorneys have practiced exclusively since the firm was founded in 1977, not personal injury law in general.
One field of law. Every kind of vessel.
BoatLaw only practices maritime and admiralty law, for people hurt at sea, on the docks, or aboard commercial and passenger vessels.
Negligence claims for seamen injured aboard a vessel due to an unsafe crew, equipment, or working conditions.
Recovering the daily living expenses and medical care a shipowner owes an injured seaman during recovery.
Claims against a vessel owner when a defective ship, not just a careless crew member, causes an injury.
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claims for dock, shipyard, and harbor workers injured on the job.
Wrongful death claims for families of maritime workers or passengers killed beyond three nautical miles from shore.
Representing deckhands and crew injured aboard fishing vessels, trawlers, crabbers, and processing ships.
Real outcomes, published on our own site.
For a harbor worker who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Secured for the family of a maritime worker killed on the job.
For a deckhand struck by a parted mooring line.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case. Each case depends on its own facts and circumstances.
Clients who trusted us with the worst day of their working life.
There was no time that Nick was ever unavailable for me. That's what I call a friend. That is somebody who cares.Past client of BoatLaw, commercial fisherman, Southeast Alaska
Two partners, one focus.
Douglas R. Williams and Nicholas J. Neidzwski built their careers exclusively around maritime and admiralty law.
Douglas R. Williams
Joined BoatLaw in 2012 after graduating in the top ten percent of his law school class and earning membership in the Order of the Coif, with a family connection to the sea, his father sailed as chief medical officer with several major cruise lines, including Holland America, Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian.
Nicholas J. Neidzwski
Legal career began in 2010 and joined BoatLaw in 2015, representing maritime workers and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death matters, and admitted to practice in Washington, California, Oregon, Alaska, and Arizona.
55 reviews. A 5.0 average.
Nick Neidzwski and Alyssa Zimmerman took on our case with great compassion in our time of tragedy. They were extremely communicative and explained all the steps to our family. They got us the best settlement we could hope for.
Connor EvansI am a commercial fisherman, and I was involved in a serious boating accident when my vessel capsized in front of Ventura Harbor. I am incredibly grateful for their dedication and care.
John JukerVery nice and helpful genuine people. Nick and Doug don't just see you as another client, they actually care about how things would affect me and went above and beyond for my best interests.
DavidServing Puget Sound's working waterfront.
If you were injured on a fishing vessel in Puget Sound, aboard a ferry, on a tugboat, barge, or another seagoing vessel operating in Seattle's busy waterways, you need an advocate who understands maritime law in these waters specifically.
Our Seattle office serves clients throughout King County and the greater Puget Sound region, including Tacoma, Everett, and Bellevue.
85 S Washington St, Suite 308, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 624-8647
The sea does not forgive carelessness.
Seattle's Fishermen's Memorial stands as a reminder of what is at stake on the water. When a shipowner cuts corners on safety, the people who pay for it are the deckhands, fishermen, and harbor workers who never had a say in the decision. That is who we represent.
What clients ask before they call.
Do you only handle Jones Act cases?
No. We handle the full range of general maritime and admiralty claims, including maintenance and cure, unseaworthiness, LHWCA claims, and Death on the High Seas Act cases, alongside Jones Act negligence claims.
Do you only represent clients in Washington?
We represent maritime workers and their families in California, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, with offices in Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
What if I was hurt on a commercial fishing vessel?
Commercial fishing and crabbing injuries are a core part of our practice, and several of our published case results and client testimonials involve fishermen and deckhands.
Talk to a maritime lawyer, not a general practice firm.
Free consultation, call 1-800-BOATLAW, or reach the Seattle office directly at (206) 624-8647.
Call 1-800-BOATLAW