Boating accidents occur more commonly than you might think, often causing injury to an innocent victim. Getting compensation to pay for the treatment of these injuries can be tough, too.
In order to file your claim, you must be prepared to demonstrate negligence and fight for your rights to recover compensation from all responsible parties.
Whether you’ve gone out boating to relax and release some stress, go out to catch some fish for your family, or are enjoying other nautical pursuits, you face increasing risks of collisions and other incidents.
For one, the number of boats out on waters across the country has steadily risen. With the increased number of boats in America’s lakes, rivers, and oceans, more boating accidents occur across all types of water vessels.
Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, can help you seek to recover all of the damages you have suffered as a result of your boating accident. We will provide you with a boating accident lawyer who can help you calculate damages, establish liability, and seek the maximum compensation available.
Not only that, but we can provide you with resources to help you recover more quickly.
Find out how our experienced boating accident attorneys can assist you with your injury claim during a free, confidential, no-obligation case review. You will receive answers to your pressing questions and learn how the claims process typically proceeds.
Schedule your free appointment with a boating accident lawyer near you when you use the convenient contact form located on this page.
How Does a Boating Accident Attorney Help Me?
How Does a Boating Accident Attorney Help Me?Due to the nature of boating, accidents can often be extremely harrowing experiences resulting in devastating and substantial personal injuries. Such injuries might involve repeated doctor visits and ongoing appointments with medical specialists.
In severe cases, the injury victim may require multiple surgeries, long-term debilitation, and an extended rehabilitation period. Serious boating accident injuries can easily inflict lifelong disabilities, especially if the victim sustains a traumatic brain injury or a near-drowning.
All of this medical need adds up to money lost. A personal injury claim filed against the party (or parties) responsible for your accident can include but is not limited to:
- Medical expenses for past and future treatments
- Lost wages from missed work or loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering proportionate to your hardship
- Boat repair or replacement of other property
Boating Accident Attorneys Help You Seek to Recover All Your Damages
The outcome of suffering from major injuries can also cause immense stress. Getting back on track after being the victim of a boating accident can be debilitating and overwhelming.
If you are a victim of boat accident-related injuries, you must focus on your health and well-being first and foremost.
It’s not the time to go it alone. Nor do you have to.
A boat accident attorney can help build a case, and it may be time for a personal injury lawyer — the CEO Lawyer. Our attorneys excel at helping our clients recover and ease back into normal life while we help them seek the maximum compensation available from all liable parties.
Your interests are best served by someone who knows the law and knows how to recover compensation for your lost wages, personal injuries, and other damages.
You need someone who can diligently work within the system on your behalf and who has a record of securing high compensation for their clientele.
At CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we know your rights. We are highly familiar with the process of gathering evidence, identifying responsible parties, and communicating on your behalf to represent you throughout the claims process.
We do all this while building the best case possible with the ultimate goal of maximizing your financial outcome.
With years of experience in the courtroom and mediation, attorney Ali Awad, the CEO lawyer, and we, his accomplished team, will stand with you and lead the way to the best attainable result for your situation.
Awad has a success rate of 95.5%, and our team works tirelessly on behalf of our clients, whether in the mediation room or the courtroom.
If you have been in a boating accident and have personal injuries as a result, contact our injury and accident attorneys online today. CEO Lawyer is available to answer your questions and walk you through the steps to get started.
Benefits of Working With the CEO Lawyer
Having an attorney and the legal team representing you from CEO Lawyer would release you from handling all your case details, freeing up your time to live your life and recuperate.
Plus, CEO Lawyer has proven strategies and success rates that increase the potential to achieve a greater win for you.
Some of the many benefits of working with CEO Lawyer include
- Comprehensive, professional case management from start to finish — dedicated to representing your best interests
- Applying extensive knowledge of the law and experience with insurance companies and the legal system to your case
- Negotiation for settlement offers or preparation of a lawsuit on your behalf
- Guidance through all phases of litigation, potentially including discovery, trial, and punitive damages requests
The Most Common Boat Accidents and Injuries
Like most accidents, boating accidents can happen suddenly and violently. Boating accidents are often serious and can lead to long-term, even lifelong injuries and damages.
According to the United States Coast Guard report, it’s statistically shown that alcohol is a top factor in fatal boating accidents. The Coast Guard also reported that the most common vessels involved in boating accidents are open motorboats, personal watercraft, and cabin motorboats.
What Are the Different Boat Types Most Commonly Involved in Accidents?
While these definitions may vary from state to state, the following are categories of boats most often involved in accidents.
- Motorboat: a powerboat or speedboat with an inboard or outboard engine. Both open or cabin boats are included in this category.
- Personal Watercraft: jet propelled with the person kneeling, sitting, or standing, like a JetSki®, WaveRunner®, or similar.
- Commercial boats: These may include larger passenger boats for tours and sightseeing as well as vessels designed for hauling, transport, and other industry-related tasks.
As identified, these are the most common boats reported in accidents, but remember, this is not a full list, and there are other types of watercraft that may be involved in boating accidents. Don’t rule out your eligibility to receive compensation if your vessel isn’t listed above.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Boating Accidents?
Some of the top causes of boating accidents include:
- Excessive Speed
- Man Overboard
- Alcohol Impairment
- Unexpected Extreme Weather
- No Lookout
These mistakes can be committed by the operator of the vessel the injury victim was on or by the operator of another vessel that collided with theirs. Ultimately, every boating operator has a responsibility to safely operate their vessel and minimize risk to their passengers.
A single mistake or instance of reckless abandon can result in life-altering injury or death. As such, boating operators have an established duty to prevent such harm, and when their negligence causes it, they can be held accountable for the damages it inflicts.
What Are the Most Common Boating Injuries?
The injuries inflicted in a boating accident can vary depending on the type of vessel and the type of collision or incident involved.
Some of the most common boating injuries resulting from boating accidents include:
- Brain Injuries and Concussions
- Broken Bones or Whiplash
- Head, Neck, and Spinal injuries
- Loss of Limb or Fingers
- Burns
- Fatalities from Drowning
If your injury does not fall within the spectrum of these categories, it does not mean you are not eligible for a personal injury claim. As a victim, you have rights and may be entitled to compensation – contact CEO Lawyer for a free consultation and get your questions answered.
What if Alcohol Consumption Caused My Boating Accident?
In the United States, boating accidents that involve one or more participants that are under the influence of alcohol are a statistic on the rise. The National Safe Boating Council reported that, in 2021, alcohol consumption was the number one factor in the cause of boating fatalities.
Boat US Foundation tells us that at least half of all boating accidents involve the consumption of alcohol. They also report that in most states, it’s illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater.
Similar to a DUI, a BUI can be issued by authorities.
Alcohol impairment can cause the boat operator to have a slowed reaction time and poorer judgment skills. Sudden maneuvers can cause passengers to become increasingly unsteady, leading to individuals not only being hurt in a collision but often getting sent overboard.
Combine that with growing reckless behavior from alcohol consumption, and all of these factors escalate the risks of boating accidents that result in serious injuries.
Alcohol consumption or BUI adds another layer of technical legalese to a case. Traversing the depths of national and local boating laws and regulations is demanding, as can be proving that someone was intoxicated at the time of their incident.
A professional boating accident attorney can help establish liability and the causes of an accident while seeking to hold all liable parties accountable.
How to Avoid Boat Accidents and Fatalities
Most boating accidents are situational, meaning they can be caused unexpectedly by outside factors, like another vessel speeding into your pathway. Still, some accidents can be avoided by keeping in mind the following tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Always have a lookout for other vessels or large floating debris in the water.
- Have the radio on the appropriate channel for weather updates and assign someone to monitor the broadcasts.
- Before casting off, make sure there are enough life vests on board for all passengers.
- Assign a designated boat driver and a designated lookout if boaters will be imbibing.
As in most situations when operating a motorized vehicle of any kind, it’s the operator that is largely responsible for knowing and implementing safety measures and following the rules, guidelines, and best practices for safety.
Boating regulations can vary by state and municipality, so if you are a boat owner, it’s best to follow up and learn local safety regulations and safety courses.
The US Coast Guard Boat Responsibly website offers a short list of boating safety courses, or you can check in with your local Coast Guard station or marina to see what’s offered in your area.
Will Insurance Cover My Boating Accident Injuries?
You might be wondering if your insurance or the boat owner’s insurance will cover your personal injuries. The answer depends on your situation.
If a negligent party was responsible for your accident, then their own liability insurance should be the primary source for repayment of all damages suffered. Some cases will involve multiple liability policies, with contributions from your own insurer for certain uncovered expenses.
- Medical Insurance: Your medical insurance coverage might cover your injuries, depending on your insurance plan. However, the expenses would be subject to your policy coverage allotments and personal deductions. Depending on your plan, this could still cost you thousands of dollars.
- Boat Insurance: If the owner has boat liability insurance, it’s possible the boat insurance will cover the accident and subsequent passenger injuries. Again, any coverage is subject to the nuances of the liability plan. In the United States, currently, boat insurance is only required in two of the 50 states: Utah and Arkansas. In all of the other states, the boat owner is not required to have any boat insurance.
- Homeowners Insurance: Depending on the insurer, homeowners’ policies may cover small watercraft like canoes, kayaks, SUPs, small sailboats, and really small motorboats, but it is typically very limited coverage. If the homeowners’ insurance has umbrella liability coverage, this may cover boating accidents. Again this is limited and would require further research depending on the accident details, the parties involved, and the extent of your personal injuries.
Who Liable Parties Might a Boating Accident Lawyer Identify?
If you were injured in a boating accident, you have the right to file for financial compensation for damages and losses, including medical expenses and ongoing treatment, loss of work or ongoing loss of income, and other damages not limited to but including pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Depending on the specifics of your accident, there are certain parties that may be liable, including:
- The boat owner or operator
- The operator of a vessel that struck yours
- A boat rental company
- The boat manufacturer
- Other passengers
Determining who is liable is built on the evidence of your case, best compiled by experienced investigative experts.
Work With a Boating Accident Law Firm Dedicated to Serving You
Why Should you work with CEO Lawyer? The simplest answer is the legal team at CEO Lawyer is made up of experienced professionals with a proven track record.
Founded in 2016, CEO Lawyer, led by Managing Attorney Ali Awad, is committed to representing all walks of life and is dedicated to helping underrepresented community members.
CEO Lawyer’s team of legal professionals is here to serve you, providing much-needed legal expertise and representation for your personal injury case. Following through from start to finish, they are here to lead your case toward the highest chances of recovery.
When it comes to your health and livelihood — securing the best future for you — it’s important to take the right action from the start, and that means hiring a boating accident attorney that will have your best interest in mind through the entire process.
Use our contact form to schedule an appointment today, and get your questions answered. Alternatively, call us at (833)254-2923.
Don’t pay for your damages alone! Get the representation you need: our experienced boating accident attorney is here to provide you with a no-obligation and free consultation to help put you on the right path.
