The U.S. Coast Guard reported 651 deaths and approximately $38 million in damages to property as a result of recreational boating accidents in a recent year. Boating is one of the country’s most popular recreational pastimes. With more than 12.1 million boats registered in the U.S., boating accidents are inevitable. When an accident results in injury caused by the fault of another, injuries parties may be eligible to recover compensation with the help of a personal injury attorney.
The Johnson Firm can help people injured in boating accidents that were not their fault. Contact us today to learn more.
Causes of Boating Injuries
The top causes of boating accidents include:
- Improper lookout,
- Operator inexperience,
- Operator inattention,
- Excessive speed, and
- Machinery failure.
Additionally, alcohol use is one of the leading contributing factors in boating accidents that result in fatalities.
How a Boat Accident Lawyer Can Help
A boat accident lawyer can assist those who have been injured and help to determine who is at fault. In the case of fatalities, the surviving family members may be entitled to work with a boat accident lawyer in filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the decedent.
When negligence results in injury, an injured party suffers loss in various ways. The law allows an injured party to pursue damages to recover those losses. Common types of damages recoverable in a personal injury case include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to earn
- Scarring and disfigurement
When someone’s negligence results in the death of another person, family members of the person killed may recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages include:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Conscious pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of the economic support of the loved one
- Loss of the companionship of the loved one
- Funeral expenses
If the actions causing injury are malicious or so reckless that intent to harm can be inferred, the responsible party can be liable for punitive damages to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct in the future.
Victims of negligence and their families are encouraged to seek the counsel of a boat accident lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact the Johnson Firm. When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
