Boating Accident Lawyers
One of the reasons people choose to live in California is the convenient proximity to the ocean and other water sources. However, a fun day out in the water can turn into a disaster due to the negligence of another boat operator or another party, leading to serious injuries, including drownings and fatalities.
Unfortunately, the number of watercraft accidents has risen steadily. According to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, 568 recreational boating accidents were reported in 2021, the last year for which statistics are available. These accidents caused 243 injuries and 40 fatalities.
If you lost a loved one or were injured in a boating accident, an experienced lawyer can explain your legal rights. Contact Allen Law Firm today to discuss your legal options during a free case review.
How a Boating Accident Lawyer Can Help with Your Personal Injury Claim
After a boating accident, you may be dealing with a serious injury. Your time and attention should be on recovering, not having to deal with insurance companies that are committed to minimizing your injuries as much as possible to protect their bottom line. Allen Law Firm can be your trusted legal advocate during this time, dealing with all the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on your recovery.
When you hire us for your boating accident claim, we can help by:
- Explaining your legal rights during a free case review
- Investigating the accident to identify all at-fault parties
- Preserving valuable evidence that can help establish fault and liability
- Handling communications and claim filing with the insurance company
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Protecting your legal interests
Call us today to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.
Types of Watercraft Involved in Boat Crashes
Various types of vessels and watercraft can be involved in a boating accident, such as:
- Fishing boats
- Speedboats
- Jet Skis
- Paddleboats
- Water skiing boats
- Ferries
- Yachts
- Kayaks
- Canoes
If you were riding in a boat that another watercraft hit, while swimming, or while water skiing, you may have suffered serious injuries. Our attorneys are here to assist you throughout the legal process if someone else’s negligence is responsible for your injuries. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Types of Boating Accidents
Boating accidents can take many forms and can include:
- Capsizing accidents
- Flooding or swamping of the boat
- Collisions with other vessels or fixed objects
- Falls onboard or overboard
- Ejections from a vessel
- Fires or explosions caused by the vessel or vessel equipment
- Water skiing accidents involving a towable device
- Striking a submerged object
- Being struck by a propeller, propulsion unit, or steering machinery
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- Drowning while swimming
If someone else was responsible for the accident, you could be owed compensation for the injuries you sustained.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
Unfortunately, boating accidents are far too common. They can occur for various reasons, including:
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Speeding
- Impaired driving
- Distractions
- Not paying attention
- Defective boat parts
- Inadequate maintenance
- Not following signs or boating laws
Our California boat accident attorneys can investigate your accident, determine how it happened, and identify all at-fault parties who are responsible for compensating you for your losses.
Common Types of Boat Injuries
Boat accidents can lead to various types of injuries, ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to death. Some of the more common boat injuries include the following:
- Head injuries that occur when a victim hits their head against the boat or something in the water
- Traumatic brain injuries caused by drowning and a lack of oxygen
- Burn injuries from fire or explosions that occur on a vessel
- Broken bones that occur when the boat collides with another vessel
- Amputations from propellers
- Electrocution injuries due to a product defect or lack of maintenance
If you suffered any of these injuries, contact our personal injury attorneys for a free, no-obligation case review.
Who Is Responsible for a Boating Crash?
Boating accidents are often a result of negligence, which means the defendant:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Breached the duty of care
- Caused the accident
- Made you suffer damages
Under this legal framework, various parties could potentially be responsible for boating accidents, such as:
- Boat operators who operate the vessel negligently
- Boat owners who negligently maintain their boats that malfunction while being operated
- Maintenance companies that perform negligent repairs or fail to adequately maintain the vessel
- Boat manufacturers and parts manufacturers, if defective products contributed to the accident
- Government agencies responsible for the property that fail to provide proper warnings
An experienced personal injury attorney from our law firm can carefully review your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries. Then, we can relentlessly pursue maximum compensation from them.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Boating Collision?
California accident victims have a right to be made whole again after an accident. Courts can’t erase the injuries you’ve suffered. Instead, they are limited to awarding you financial damages against the at-fault party to try to provide some semblance of justice.
Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate for the direct financial losses you incurred because of the accident. Non-economic damages compensate for the more subjective ways that the accident has affected you.
Damages you can include as part of your boat injury claim could include the following:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
Our experienced lawyers can identify all the damages to which you are entitled.
Statute of Limitations for Boating Accident Lawsuits in California
The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in California is two years from the date of the injury. If you don’t file a lawsuit within this limited timeframe, you can lose your right to recover compensation through the courts.
The statute of limitations may be shorter or longer under special circumstances. For example, if you are suing a government agency, you will be subject to special notice requirements and have a shorter deadline than if you are suing a private party. Talk to a boating accident lawyer as soon as possible to preserve your legal rights.
What to Do After a Boating Accident
Knowing what to do after a boating accident can make the difference between obtaining a fair settlement and not. If possible, follow these steps after a boat accident:
Report the Accident
Under California Law, a recreational boat owner or operator must report a boat accident to the California Division of Boating and Waterways for any accident that results in:
- Death
- Disappearance
- Injury to a person requiring medical attention beyond first aid
- Damage to a vessel or other property exceeding $500
- Complete loss of a vessel, regardless of value
Reporting the accident ensures that the authorities are notified, allowing them to investigate and prepare an official report.
Get Information
As you wait for the authorities to respond, get information from the person responsible for the accident, including their name, contact information, and insurance information. If someone else owns the boat, get that party’s information.
Document the Scene
If possible, use your cellphone to take pictures of the accident scene, including:
- Property damage to all boats involved and to any other property that was damaged in the accident
- The presence of any alcohol bottles on the vessel that hit you
- Nearby signs
- Your injuries
Write Down Information
As soon as you can, write down your narrative about how the accident happened, what everyone said, and other essential details about the boat crash. Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical attention to tend to your wounds. Keep all your medical records, as they can be an integral part of your personal injury claim.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer
As soon as possible, contact a personal injury attorney. They can guide you through the legal process and give you tips on how to protect your rights as your claim progresses.
Call Our Boat Accident Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation Today
If you were injured in a boating accident in California, you need legal representation from an attorney experienced at handling these complex legal claims. The personal injury attorneys at Allen Law Firm have over 20 years of combined experience helping injury victims in Monterey, Salinas, and other surrounding areas.
Our legal team works tirelessly to protect the rights of injury victims and to secure compensation that will help them in the next chapter of their lives. You can count on us to work tirelessly to secure a fair outcome and to treat you with the respect and dignity you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
