There’s nothing quite as relaxing as getting out on the water for a calm day on a boat. Leaving all your worries on the shore and enjoying a swim or soaking up the sun after a long winter can work wonders for your body and mind.
For many, taking the boat out on pleasant weekends and holidays during the summer is a cherished family tradition. However, not every trip ends as peacefully as it begins.
One important thing to remember is that boats have motors, making them motor vehicles. While most people behave responsibly on the water, just as they do on land, there will always be those who don’t follow the rules.
Reckless behavior can lead to accidents, whether due to drinking and operating a boat or simply ignoring the courtesy rules of the water.
Boating accidents can be challenging to prosecute because they are less common than car accidents. Many people don’t realize boats can be as dangerous as any other motor vehicle.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is a highly experienced lawyer specializing in boating accidents. With experience and knowledge, Ali Awad has helped countless individuals secure the compensation they deserve.
While a boating accident can feel like a major setback, Ali’s dedication and experience ensure you can move forward confidently and carefully.
Our Greenville Boat Accident Attorneys Help Victims and Their Families Get Compensation
Boating is a popular pastime for Greenville residents and attracts vacationing boaters from all over. With Paris Mountain State Park just 10 minutes from downtown Greenville and the Middle Saluda River, Lake Keowee, and Lake Jocassee all a short drive away, the opportunities for boating adventures are plentiful.
While boating can be a delightful way to spend your day, it’s essential to understand the potential risks. In Greenville, boating accidents are not uncommon and can lead to severe, even life-threatening injuries, often due to the negligence of others.
This underscores the importance of seeking legal assistance to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Our Greenville boating team helps victims and their families secure the compensation they deserve. Our Greenville boat accident lawyer offers professional legal representation for boat accident injuries caused by:
- Lack of experience on the part of the captain or crew.
- Insufficient maintenance or repairs affecting the boat’s seaworthiness.
- Excessive speed in no-wake zones, inattention, and other reckless boating behaviors.
- Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Careless disregard for other boaters.
- Overloading the boat with passengers.
- Failing to account for hazardous weather conditions.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for expert legal assistance to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
How Will Our Greenville Boating Accident Law Firm Help Me After an Accident?
Boat accidents can be terrifying. Things can take a traumatic turn when you’re out on the open water. Victims often struggle with severe mental anguish and emotional distress in addition to painful physical injuries.
Those responsible for causing your boat accident must be held fully accountable for the harm and suffering they’ve caused.
However, at-fault parties and insurance companies won’t willingly write you a check. You’ll have to demand the compensation you need and deserve.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can level the playing field and give you time to recover. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we’ve been advocating for boat accident victims in Greenville for a long time.
We understand the profound impact these traumatic accidents can have on victims and their families. We also know how vital financial recovery can be in the following days, weeks, months, and years. We fight passionately to get our clients the money they deserve.
When you call us for assistance after your Greenville boat accident, you can expect us to:
- Cooperate with law enforcement agencies and investigators: We ensure that all relevant evidence is gathered.
- Review all evidence: This includes police reports, medical reports, witness interviews, and boat records.
- Bring in experts: We work with experts to identify the likely causes of your boat accident.
- Seek compensation: We identify all liable parties and seek compensation from them.
- Mitigate blame: We counter efforts to shift the blame for the accident to you.
- Handle negotiations: We deal with insurance companies that aim to limit or deny a payout.
Our Greenville boat accident lawyers will stand by your side from start to finish. We’ll manage all aspects of your case while keeping you fully informed. If a deal can be made, we’ll find it.
Our skilled trial lawyers will take your case to court if negotiations don’t yield a fair settlement offer. You can trust that we’ll do everything possible to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.
What Are the Main Causes of Boating Injuries?
Common causes of boating accidents that may be the basis of a legal claim include:
- Operators must use reasonable care and always pay attention when controlling a vessel. Distractions can be devastating.
- An inexperienced boater may not make appropriate judgment calls regarding hazards, maneuvering, and boat traffic.
- Driving too fast for conditions may cause an operator to lose control, making it difficult to react quickly to avoid a collision.
- Boating under the influence is against the law. Alcohol and drug use too often contribute to crashes.
- Just like operating a vehicle recklessly, the dangerous operation of a boat can cause a crash.
- A boat’s design may increase the likelihood of a crash or make a collision more severe.
- South Carolina law requires a lookout person for waterskiing or a rear-view mirror for the operator to monitor the person waterskiing. Not having this person can result in harm.
- Boats must have life jackets for each person on board. People under 12 aboard a Class “A” motorboat (under 16 feet) must wear a life jacket. Failing to have life jackets may result in injury or drowning.
- Boats have capacity limits. Operating overweight can cause harm.
- South Carolina law regulates boating in many respects. Failure to follow these laws can cause a collision or worsen injuries.
As your attorneys, we will investigate the causes of the accident and determine the basis for compensation.
Boating Laws and Rules in South Carolina
According to South Carolina’s Official State Regulation Guide, boaters must adhere to several laws to safely operate on the waterways. Here are some key rules:
- Idle Speed Restrictions: A boat operator must not exceed idle speed within 50 feet of an anchored vessel, wharf, pier, dock, or person in the water. They cannot exceed idle speed within 100 yards of the Atlantic coastline.
- Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): All boats must be equipped with Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices that are wearable and in good condition.
- Navigation Lights: Navigation lights must be used for visibility between official sunset and sunrise.
- Flares: Flares are essential on all boats in coastal waters to signal emergencies.
- Sound-Producing Devices: Boats less than 39.4 feet must be equipped with a sound-producing device, and boats between 39.4 and 65.6 feet must have both a whistle and a bell.
- Operator Age Restrictions: Boat operators under 16 must complete an SCDNR-approved course or be accompanied by an adult over 18.
These rules are designed to ensure the safety of everyone on the water.
Common Types of Recreational Boating Accidents in Greenville
According to a study by the United States Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, here are some of the most prevalent types of recreational boating and marine accidents:
Collision with Another Vessel
Boating safety rules and regulations are often not widely publicized or strictly enforced. As a result, boat operators must be diligent in understanding and following these guidelines.
When a boat driver fails to exercise caution, it endangers their passengers and those on nearby vessels.
Collision with a Fixed Object
Accidents can occur when boat operators fail to recognize and avoid hazards such as shallow waters, rocks, and docks. These collisions can result in hard impacts or even capsizing.
Falling Overboard
Slippery floors, sudden movements, or passenger recklessness can lead to someone falling overboard. Being unexpectedly thrown into choppy waters can make it extremely difficult for the victim to swim back to safety.
Capsizing
Capsizing happens when a boat overturns, ending up upside down or on its side. This often occurs following another accident, such as a fire onboard or a collision with another object.
Liability for Greenville Boating Accidents
In Greenville, multiple parties can be held liable for a boating accident. This includes any individuals or entities whose negligent or reckless actions contributed to the accident, such as:
- Boat operators
- Passengers
- Boat rental companies
- Tour boat companies
- Ferry companies
- Employers of boat operators
- Boat manufacturers or retailers
- Boat mechanics
- Government agencies
Financial responsibility for a recreational boating accident is distributed among all parties found to be at fault. If you are partially responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced proportionately.
For instance, if you are deemed 30 percent at fault, your financial award will be limited to 70 percent of your total damages. Additionally, you could be liable for up to 30 percent of the other victims’ losses.
This determines the importance of working with an experienced Greenville boat accident lawyer.
The legal team at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is dedicated to minimizing the impact of any claims against you. They will strive to disprove allegations of your responsibility, reduce your share of the blame, and maximize your potential compensation.
Time Limits for Filing a Boating Accident Lawsuit in Greenville
In Greenville, state law allows victims up to three years after a boating accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, the specific time frame may vary depending on the details of your case.
If the statute of limitations expires before you file a claim, you will lose your right to seek compensation.
Don’t let your compensation slip away. Contact us as soon as possible after your accident, and our team will determine the statute of limitations for your case and ensure your lawsuit is filed on time.
How to Prevent Boating Accidents?
While operating a recreational water vessel, taking precautions can help prevent accidents or minimize damage if one occurs.
Here are some essential safety tips:
- Always wear life jackets: Ensure everyone on board wears a life jacket and dresses appropriately for potential water immersion.
- Monitor weather conditions: Stay aware of the weather. Cold weather is particularly dangerous due to lower water temperatures and fewer boaters or water patrols available for rescue.
- Avoid alcohol: Do not consume alcohol while on the water, as it can severely impair judgment and lead to severe accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
- Utilize distress-alerting technologies: Equip your vessel with distress-alerting and position-indicating technologies. In an emergency, these devices can help rescuers locate your vessel quickly.
- Inform others of your plans: Always let a guard or family member know your expected return time from a boating or water trip.
Proving Damages in a Boating Accident Case
Proving your case involves more than demonstrating that a particular party was at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. To pursue a fair settlement or verdict, we will gather the following information:
- Medical records and statements: Documentation from treating physicians detailing your injuries and treatment.
- Medical costs: A record of medical expenses and projected future medical expenses.
- Additional costs: Any extra expenses related to your injuries, such as necessary assistance or specialized equipment.
- Lost wages: Documentation of lost income to date and projected future losses.
- Property damage: An assessment of any property damage resulting from the accident.
If this process sounds complicated, don’t worry. Our experienced team of Greenville boating accident lawyers will handle all the details, ensuring that legal requirements are met and deadlines are observed.
We are dedicated to fighting for the best possible recovery in your case.
Free Consultation from a Greenville Boating Accident Lawyer
If you suffered injuries from a boating accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation to help you recover. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm in Atlanta, we are dedicated to utilizing our skills and resources to support innocent victims of recreational boating accidents.
Contact us today at (864) 664-3865 or schedule a complimentary initial consultation to learn how we can assist you. We’ll answer your questions and explain all of your legal options.
FAQs:
- What should I do if I’m involved in a boat accident?
If anyone is seriously injured, get medical attention immediately. Once the situation is assessed, determine if you must call your insurance company due to injury or extensive property damage. If someone’s negligence caused the accident, consider contacting a boating accident attorney.
- What are common contributing factors to boating accidents?
The top five contributing factors to boating accidents are operator inattention, careless or reckless operation, passenger or skier behavior, excessive speed, and alcohol involvement.
- How much can you win in a judgment after your boating accident?
While we cannot guarantee a specific amount in any personal injury lawsuit, the compensation a victim may receive after a boating accident caused by someone else’s recklessness depends on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the injuries.
A victim who misses several weeks or months of work and experiences a reduced quality of life due to their injuries may be eligible for a substantial settlement.
