Californians love being on the water.
There’s nothing much better than spending a beautiful day in the sun. Unfortunately, a boating accident can lead to severe injuries or worse. If that happens to you due to the negligence of someone else, you’ll need the help of an experienced attorney in order to have the best possible chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
In 2020, the Coast Guard counted 5,265 accidents that involved 767 deaths, 3,191 injuries and approximately $62.5 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents with personal watercraft (https://uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2020.pdf).
Personal watercrafts are often referred by the trademarked brand names of personal watercraft by Kawasaki (Jet Ski), Yamaha (WaveRunner), Bombardier (Sea-Doo) and Honda (AquaTrax). The United States Coast Guard defines a personal watercraft, amongst other criteria, as a jet-drive boat less than 13 feet (4 m) long.
At Harsh Law, our attorneys are experts in all facets of personal injury law, including injuries suffered in boating accidents. Whether yours occurred due to a drunk or distracted boat operator, an inexperienced operator, failure for the appropriate personal floatation safety devices made available, or some other reason, we’ll be here to help.
Reason 1: THE OWNER OF THE BOAT DOESN’T HAVE INSURANCE
If you’re in an accident with an uninsured boater, obtaining compensation will be much more difficult. This is only one of the many reasons why you’ll need a skilled attorney on your side. So that you have a legal representative on your side to fight for the rights of yours to be maintained.
Reason 2: THE INSURANCE COMPANY OFFERED A SETTLEMENT
In many instances, those harmed by negligent boaters will file an insurance claim, only to be met with opposition from their insurers. The insurer may attempt to negotiate a settlement that doesn’t come close to covering your injury-related costs, such as medical treatment, lost income, and other expenses.
Reason 3: THERE WAS NEGLIGENCE INVOLVED
Accidents that result in severe injury or death often occur due to someone’s negligence. Boating mishaps are no exception. If a boat operator wasn’t following safety rules, there is a very good chance you’ll need to hire an attorney if you were hurt as a result.
Negligent operation of a boat could be due to distractions, much like when the driver of a car causes an accident due to distracted driving. The operator, for instance, could have been talking on a smartphone, or sending a text. They might have been talking to someone else. Regardless of the reason, they were paying attention to something else rather than focusing on operating the boat as safely as possible.
Reason 4: THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A POORLY MAINTAINED BOAT
A boat’s owner is responsible for ensuring that it is in good working order on a regular basis. If a boat fails due to a lack of maintenance, and you are harmed as a result, you’ll need an attorney to represent you in seeking compensation.
Reason 5: YOUR INJURIES ARE SEVERE
If the harm is minor, and you only suffer slight injuries that don’t necessitate medical treatment, you will not require legal assistance. If you suffered a major, debilitating injury as a result of a boating accident, on the other hand, you will most certainly need an attorney. Back and neck injuries may include herniated discs, torn ligaments and other debilitating conditions that result from a boating accident.
Accidents on the water can be serious, especially if they involve an uninsured vessel. Although you might think of your case as being cut and dry, there’s no telling what your insurer will say or do to avoid paying for your claim.
Hire a boat accident lawyer immediately if you are injured in an accident
So now that you know reasons why you need an experienced boating attorney, the next thing to consider is the timing. In most instances, you’ll need to hire an attorney as soon as you possibly can. All personal injury cases can be complicated – boating accidents can be even more complex.
Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling (909) 793-6261. Call and talk to the expert legal team at Harsh Law to get a complimentary evaluation of your case.