Boating plays a significant role in economic growth and people’s culture. But people being people, the high number of boats means that the likelihood of having boat accidents is imminent. Some of these accidents cause minor injuries or accidental death, while others cause damage to the water vessel. Water accidents are typically related to yachting, rafting, jet skiing, swimming, or boating.
Most weekends spent on the ocean, river, or lake are accompanied by loud music, alcohol, and partying. This often results in reckless behavior, deluded judgment skills, and slower reaction times when operating watercraft.
If you experience a boat accident, it’s best to hire the services of a boat accident attorney to help you seek compensation. This post will discuss six situations when you may need to hire a boat accident attorney.
When the Boat Owner is Liable
When you contact a boat accident attorney, they will request you describe the boat accident exactly as it happened. What you tell them will assist them in determining which party is liable for the accident – and consequently, the subject of your legal lawsuit.
Liability usually differs from case to case, and the attorney may decide to sue the entire corporation or a single individual. Let’s say your boat’s engine caught fire, and as a result, you experienced throat damage or burns from inhaling the smoke. In this situation, your attorney could decide to sue the engine’s manufacturer for the faulty product.
When the Boat Owner Was Negligent
The law of negligence usually controls the direction of your legal case. If someone failed to do their job correctly or acted carelessly or recklessly, they’re considered negligent by the law. Your attorney must prove that the party responsible for upholding your safety was negligent. If the party that injured you acted recklessly or carelessly, the attorney must show that their negligent actions caused your injuries.
Here is an example of another case – if the injuries you experienced are related to blunt force trauma, they could result from a motorboat crashing into your vessel. In this situation, your boat attorney will hire the services of a specialist to examine your contusions and bruises. Consequently, they will compare your injuries to the watercraft that hit you.
When You Want to Include Damages in Your Claim
Although the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a boat accident lawsuit is medical bills, your boat accident attorney can increase the number of damages in your claim.
Besides medical costs, you may have suffered from mental anguish as accidents tend to be traumatic. If you took some time off work, the attorney could add the total hours you were not paid in wages into your claim.
Attorneys can demand various damages to be paid for in full, and the damages vary from case to case.
When the Boat Owner Doesn’t Have an Insurance in Place
Boat insurance is a must-have for boat and yacht charter companies in many parts of the world. No insurance coverage may pose a significant problem if the liable party hurts you or damages your watercraft.
If you get into a water accident and realize that the liable boat owner is uninsured, this is the perfect opportunity to hire a boat accident attorney. The attorney will ensure you won’t be left in the lurch, and you’ll receive full compensation for your preventable injuries.
When You’ve Experienced Severe Injuries
An injury caused by a careless or reckless boat owner could knock your life off the track. Many people encounter preventable injuries that often deplete their resources with lost wages and compounding medical costs. Not to mention the emotional and physical pain often linked to boat accidents. Some of these injuries include:
Traumatic brain injuries
Accidental amputations
Broken bones
Spinal cord injuries
Burns
If you experience severe injuries from any boat accident, please contact a specialized boat accident attorney to help you find a viable solution to your situation.
When the Insurance Company is Trying to Low-Ball Your Settlement
Don’t accept any settlement lower than what you deserve. In some cases, insurance firms tend to provide settlements that can’t meet the plaintiff’s medical costs or other damages. If the liable party’s insurance provider offers a settlement that barely covers your expenses, it’s best to hire an attorney to take you through the legal process.
Some costs incurred from a boat accident injury comprise emergency room visits, lost wages, X-rays, hospital expenses, ongoing care, property damage, etc. These expenses often pile up over time after the accident. Therefore, when you get the right attorney to handle your case, you can receive the compensation you deserve.
5 Useful Safety Tips for Boating
Boating is a leisure activity often accompanied by risks. However, you can employ some actions to ensure you remain safe while on the waterway. Here are some of the tips to keep you and your passengers safe.
1: Don’t operate a boat or any watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
2: Ensure you and other people on board have life jackets
3: It’d help to undertake a boating safety program and regularly review safety measures
4: Ensure you have safety equipment on the boat – flares, boat lights, life jackets, and fire extinguishers
5: Most importantly, you should be aware of the day’s weather conditions before boating each day
Conclusion
Practicing these safety habits may be a matter of life and death in certain situations. Keep yourself, everyone aboard, and your boating counterparts safe by following these valuable tips.
