I Was Injured in a Boating Accident at the Lake of the Ozarks – Do I File a Personal Injury Claim at the Lake or Back at Home?

Being Injured Away From Home Is Frightening. Fortunately, Duckworth Injury Law’s Personal Injury Attorney Is Here to Support You After an Accident at the Lake of the Ozarks

The Lake of the Ozarks is a popular summer vacation destination for families both in Missouri and across the Midwest. In fact, it’s estimated that the Lake of the Ozarks receives 2.5 million visitors per year, and that doesn’t even account for residents and second homeowners. The Lake of the Ozarks provides a little bit of something for everyone, making it easy to see why it’s such a popular summer destination. While many families go to the Lake of the Ozarks to enjoy boating, jet skiing, and swimming, others are often at the lake for bachelor or bachelorette parties, bar hopping, and for the lake’s entertainment and nightlife. 

However, with so many people engaged in so many different activities, there are many visitors seriously injured or killed while at the Lake of the Ozarks each year. The Lake of the Ozarks consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous lakes in the United States. In 2023 alone, the U.S. Coast Guard recorded 61 boating accidents, which resulted in 56 injured persons and one death. While this statistic is alarmingly high, it does not account for the numerous other people injured or killed at the Lake each year from dock electrocutions, slip and falls at businesses and private property, and motor vehicle crashes around the Lake of the Ozarks.   

With so many injury causing accidents occurring at the Lake of the Ozarks each year, many injured victims are left wondering where to begin in pursuing their personal injury claim – especially if they are not from the Lake of the Ozarks. So, if you’ve been injured at the Lake of the Ozarks due to the actions or inactions of another person or entity, should you file a personal injury claim at the Lake or back at your home?

Where Should I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit if My Accident Didn’t Happen Where I Live?

If you were injured at the Lake of the Ozarks, any lawsuit will typically need to be filed at the Lake of the Ozarks

Missouri law requires a negligence claim to be filed in the county court where the injury causing accident first occurred. See RSMo. § 508.010. That means if you were involved in a boat crash while on the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, any lawsuit would likely need to be filed in the Circuit Court of Morgan County in Versailles, Missouri. Or, if you were injured while at a business on The Strip at Bagnell Damn, your claim would need to be pursued in the Circuit Court of Miller County in Tuscumbia, MO. If a loved one was involved in a car accident while approaching Margaritaville on State Hwy KK, that lawsuit would need to be litigated in the Circuit Court of Camden County in Camdenton, MO. 

While many visitors who have suffered an injury causing accident at the Lake of the Ozarks will seek out a personal injury lawyer from their hometown (for example, a STL resident injured at the Lake may attempt to hire a STL injury attorney), hiring a personal injury attorney who is familiar with practicing personal injury law in the counties encompassing the Lake of the Ozarks has many advantages.

The advantages of hiring a personal injury lawyer who practices in the Lake of the Ozarks community where you were injured

1. Familiarity with the Lake of the Ozarks’ courts will only help your attorney build your personal injury claim

A personal injury attorney who frequently handles injury claims at the Lake of the Ozarks is going to be more familiar with the local courts in the area. As mentioned above, depending on where your accident occurred, your claim may need to be filed and litigated in either Morgan, Miller, Benton, or Camden County. While Missouri Courts are required to follow general rules outlined in Missouri’s Rules of Civil Procedure, the individual circuit courts also implement additional rules known as Local Rules, specific to each circuit court. These local rules often have unique requirements regarding how cases should be prosecuted, how trials should be scheduled, and how discovery should take place. Hiring a lawyer who is familiar with the local rules of the courts of the Lake of the Ozarks is important in ensuring your claim is properly pursued.

2. If you were injured at the Lake of the Ozarks, seek out an attorney who has experience handling boating accident or jet ski accident claims 

While most personal injury attorneys are familiar with handling car accident claims, many have never pursued a personal injury claim arising from a boating accident or a jet ski crash. In cities like Kansas City, STL, or Chicago, boating and jet skiing simply aren’t as prevalent activities, resulting in far fewer injuries from such activities. 

If your hometown attorney has never pursued a boat accident or jet ski accident claim, they may lack the knowledge to adequately pursue your claim to its maximum value. Boating accident personal injury claims often involve unique and complex insurance issues, severe damages, and specialized liability experts. An attorney who frequently handles these types of claims at the Lake of the Ozarks will likely have experience with these unique factors, while an out-of-town attorney may not.

3. Hiring a local attorney will result in money saved on case expenses 

As your Lake of the Ozarks accident claim will likely need to be pursued in a Lake of the Ozarks’ court, your attorney will need to appear in Court for you at the Lake. Further, it is likely depositions will need to be conducted at the Lake of the Ozarks, especially if the defendant or a witness is located at the Lake. The costs of attending these court hearings and depositions will likely be passed on to you by way of case expenses. Typically, case expenses include items such as mileage, gas, meals, and lodging reimbursement. Hiring an attorney who is located near the Lake of the Ozarks will likely save you on these reimbursable case expenses. 

4. Your personal injury lawyer is authorized to practice law in Missouri

Finally, hiring a personal injury lawyer who practices at the Lake of the Ozarks means that lawyer has been admitted to practice in Missouri State Courts. As such, that lawyer will be able to file a lawsuit, if necessary, in a Lake of the Ozarks’ court. If you are an out-of-state visitor injured while at the Lake, your hometown attorney may not be licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.

Choose Duckworth Injury Law as your Lake of the Ozarks personal injury attorney 

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed while at the Lake of the Ozarks, you owe it to yourself to hire a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling serious injury and wrongful death claims at the Lake of the Ozarks and its associated circuit courts. At Duckworth Injury Law, attorney EC Duckworth routinely handles personal injury claims in Benton, Morgan, Miller, and Camden County Courts. Our office is centrally located in Columbia, MO, only an hour from the Lake of the Ozarks. Duckworth Injury Law handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death causing accidents that occur at the Lake of the Ozarks, including boating accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and premises liability claims. If you’d like to learn more about what Duckworth Injury Law can do for you and your Lake area personal injury case, reach out today.