What to Do After a Boating Accident
If you’re involved in a boating accident in Dallas or any of the surrounding areas, there are certain steps you should take right away to protect yourself and others. How you respond to a boat accident can make all the difference in the outcome of the incident, as well as any future legal proceedings you pursue.
First and foremost, seek medical attention. If necessary, call 911. If possible, render aid to anyone at the scene who needs it. You should always report boat accidents to local authorities. Make sure to provide details about what happened to the police.
If you suffered any type of injury in the accident, no matter how minor, you should see a medical professional as soon as possible. Often, the shock and trauma of the incident masks the true severity of victims’ injuries. You may not realize the extent of the damage until later. Seeing a medical provider not only ensures you get the treatment you need but also provides critical evidence of your injuries for your future claim.
Next, reach out to an experienced boat accident lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and other losses. At Arnold & Itkin, we help injured boat accident victims fight for justice in the wake of these devastating occurrences. Our team has secured billions of dollars for the injured, and we are ready to aggressively advocate for your recovery.
Who Is Liable for a Boat Accident?
If you or someone you love was injured in a boat accident, you are likely dealing with thousands of dollars in medical debt, unpaid bills, and lost wages from time taken off work. To make matters worse, the physical and emotional trauma of the incident can be debilitating, making it extremely difficult to get back on your feet. If someone else was responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages. But how can you determine who is liable?
Determining the Cause of the Accident
The first step in determining liability after a boating accident is to determine exactly how the incident occurred. This involves examining all the factors surrounding the accident to identify whether negligence played a role.
The leading causes of boat accidents include:
- Operator inexperience
- Excessive speeds
- Intoxication
- Distracted boating
- Improper lookout
- Failure to obey navigational rules
- Unsafe water or weather conditions
- Equipment failure
- Defects
In many cases, negligent boating operation—whether through driving at high speeds, failing to look out for other vessels and fixed objects, or using alcohol or drugs while boating—leads to devastating collisions and other accidents. However, manufacturer negligence can also play a role in these incidents. This may be the case when a boating accident results from defective machinery or equipment, including faulty vessel design, malfunctioning electrical components, or defective safety gear, such as lifejackets.
Identifying the Liable Party
Once we have pinpointed the exact cause of your accident, we are able to determine who is liable for your damages. In most cases, the person who directly caused the accident is responsible, but another party may be partially or entirely liable if their negligent or wrongful conduct is found to have played a role in the incident.
Depending on the specific details of your case, one or more of the following parties could be liable for your damages:
- The other boat or personal watercraft operator
- Another passenger in one of the involved vessels
- A defective vessel or equipment manufacturer
- The boat or personal watercraft rental company
At Arnold & Itkin, we conduct exhaustive investigations and work with various experts, including accident reconstructionists and medical professionals, to not only identify the cause of the accident and the liable party but also to prove the full nature and extent of your injuries. Using this information, we are able to build powerful, persuasive cases aimed at maximizing results.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover in a Boat Accident Case?
While the actual value of your claim will depend on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries and whether you were partially at fault, there are certain types of damages you may be entitled to when filing a personal injury claim.
Our Dallas boat accident attorneys help clients seek fair compensation for the following and more:
- Medical expenses, including future care costs
- Lost wages and other forms of income
- Mental and physical pain and suffering
- Loss of earning capacity due to injury or disability
In some cases, injured victims or the families of those wrongfully killed in boating accidents are entitled to punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, which are meant to compensate victims for specific losses, punitive damages are intended to punish liable parties for cases involving egregious negligence or willful/wanton misconduct.
Our team can evaluate your claim for free. During an initial consultation, we can provide more information regarding the potential value of your case, as well as the specific types of damages you may be entitled to receive. We encourage you to reach out to our firm today at (888) 493-1629 to learn more.
Talk to Our Dallas Attorneys About Your Boat Injury Case Today
If you’ve been involved in a boat accident in Dallas or the nearby areas, we encourage you to reach out to our firm today to learn how we can help.
We represent people who have been injured or who have lost loved ones in accidents on or involving:
- Motorboats
- Kayaks
- Canoes
- Fishing boats
- Sailboats
- Pontoons
- Speedboats
- Bowriders
- Ski boats
- Waterboard boats
- Jet boats
- Personal watercraft
We also help seamen who have been injured in offshore accidents. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your boat collision, and even if you think you may have been partially to blame, we can help you understand your rights and options. We can investigate the incident to determine its cause and, therefore, which party (or parties) might be held liable for your medical treatment and other expenses and losses. We are a leading injury law firm in Dallas with an extensive history of helping boat accident victims nationwide. Let our boating accident attorneys help you get answers and fight for a brighter future.
When a day out on the water turns into a disaster, we step in to help people find justice. Learn how our Dallas boating accident lawyers can help you by calling (888) 493-1629.
