If you or a loved one have been injured in a boating accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Boat accidents can be traumatic events that leave victims with medical bills and financial hardships.
If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, they could be responsible for all of your damages. The boating accident attorneys at 844-SPARTAN can help you get the compensation you deserve after being injured in a boating accident.
We have over 75 years of combined experience fighting for accident victims. We have experience handling all types of personal injury cases and know how to get results for our clients.
Call us today at (844) 772-7826 to schedule a free consultation with a boating accident lawyer.
How 844-SPARTAN Can Help After a Boating Accident
If another party was responsible for your boating accident, you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against them to recover all of your economic and non-economic damages. However, getting the compensation you deserve can be difficult.
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is the best way to ensure you get the compensation you deserve and that all responsible parties are held accountable. 844-SPARTAN’s team of experienced personal injury attorneys knows how to get results.
We’ve recovered over $250 million for our clients in settlements and verdicts. We understand how challenging personal injury cases can be and pride ourselves on providing every client with concierge-level service.
When you work with 844-SPARTAN, you can trust that our boating accident lawyers will:
- Investigate your case to determine all parties responsible for your boating accident
- Gather evidence to support your case – including accident reports, vessel maintenance records, accident photos and videos, and witness statements
- Review medical records, receipts, bills, and other documentation to calculate the value of your case
- Work with experts to support your claim
- File a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company and negotiate to ensure you get a fair settlement
- If necessary, file a lawsuit and represent you in court
- Defend you against claims of comparative negligence
- Keep you updated on the status of your case and all case developments
To learn more about how we can help you get financial compensation after a boating accident, contact our team today. We’re available 24/7 and can schedule a free evaluation to discuss your case.
How Common Are Boating Accidents?
Boating accidents are reported every year across the United States. They often lead to serious injuries, fatalities, and property damage. Contributing factors can include alcohol use, operator inexperience, poor maintenance, and excessive speed.
Unfortunately, recreational boating on lakes, rivers, and coastal waters continues to present risks that can result in devastating accidents.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents?
Many different factors can cause boating accidents, especially in busy or crowded waters.
Some of the most common causes of boating accidents are:
- Operator error or inattention
- Operator inexperience
- Excessive speed
- Poor maintenance
- Defective equipment
- Striking underwater or stationary objects
- Operators being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Alcohol is one of the leading contributing factors in fatal boating accidents. While most people understand the dangers of drinking and driving a car, many people don’t recognize how dangerous it can be to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol.
What Damages Can Accident Victims Recover After a Boating Accident?
After a boating accident, victims can recover compensatory damages from the liable party. Compensatory damages compensate victims for all losses and make them “whole” after an accident.
There are two categories of compensatory damages – economic and non-economic. Economic damages reimburse victims for tangible losses that can be documented and calculated. Non-economic damages compensate victims for more abstract losses – like decreased quality of life.
Some common damages awarded after boating accidents are:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Decreased earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish or emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Calculating damages can be difficult. Victims only have one opportunity to get compensation for their economic and personal losses. This means it’s really important to accurately calculate damages to ensure you can cover all current and future expenses.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will gather evidence, review documentation, and work with experts to calculate your current and future losses. Schedule a free consultation to discuss the damages you’re entitled to.
How Much Is My Boating Accident Case Worth?
Boating accident cases are a type of personal injury claim. Every personal injury case is different, and the value of cases varies significantly based on the facts of each case.
The type and severity of your injuries have the biggest impact on the value of your case. The more severe your injuries, the more your case is worth.
Other factors that impact your case’s value are:
- Whether or not you sustained a permanent disability
- The impact your injuries have on your ability to work
- The impact your injuries have on your earning capacity
- Whether or not you were partly at fault for the accident
The best way to get an estimate of how much your case is worth is to meet with a boating accident lawyer. Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation. We’ll analyze your case and give you an estimate of how much your claim is worth.
Who Could Be Liable for My Boating Accident?
Our team will investigate your case to determine all parties liable for your accident.
Some of the most common parties liable for boating accidents are:
- Boat operators. If a boat operator’s negligence caused the accident, you can hold them liable for your damages. If the driver was under the influence of alcohol, driving too fast, driving recklessly, or not following the rules of the water, they could be held liable for their actions.
- Boat owners. Boat owners are responsible for ensuring that their boats are properly maintained, have all necessary safety equipment, and are safely operated.
- Boat manufacturers. If defective parts or a manufacturing defect caused the accident, the boat manufacturer could be liable.
- Rental companies. Rental companies must keep boats in good condition, provide necessary safety equipment, and properly train all boat operators.
- Other passengers. If a passenger’s reckless, negligent, or malicious conduct caused an accident, they can be held liable.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Partly at Fault for a Boating Accident?
In many states, comparative negligence rules apply. Injured parties can often recover damages as long as they are not more than 49% at fault for an accident. However, whenever injured parties are at fault for an accident, damages are reduced by the proportion of their fault.
For example, if you have $100,000 in damages and are 20% at fault for an accident, you are only entitled to recover $80,000. If you incurred $100,000 in damages and are 55% at fault for a boating accident, you’re not entitled to recover anything.
It is a common practice for the responsible party – or their insurance company – to blame the victim for boating accidents. Accident victims need to be prepared for and ready to defend against this.
If you’re being blamed for a boating accident, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are protected.
Common Injuries After Boat Accidents
Boating accident injuries can range from minor to catastrophic.
Some common injuries we see from boating accidents are:
- Lacerations
- Electrical injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Broken bones
- Hypothermia
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
Unfortunately, some boating accidents result in drownings or fatal injuries. If you’ve lost a loved one in a boating accident, you can bring a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. These are difficult cases but offer a way to cover your expenses and ensure the responsible party is held accountable for their actions.
If you or a loved one were injured in a boating accident, contact a boating accident lawyer to discuss your rights.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident?
Civil lawsuits like boating accident claims are subject to strict filing deadlines. In most cases, injured parties have a limited time from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
If you don’t file a lawsuit by this deadline, your case may be dismissed, and you’ll lose your right to compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Boating Accident Lawyer
Boating accidents are increasingly common. If you or a family member have been injured in a boating accident, 844-SPARTAN can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a boating accident lawyer.
