Thousands of serious boating accidents occur in the United States each year. The Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Accident Report Database estimates that over 700 fatalities occurred due to boating accidents in 2009 alone. While many families and individuals look forward to the fun and excitement of a day on the water, there are a variety of dangers associated with boating.
If you or someone you love has suffered harm in a boating accident in which someone else was to blame, you may be able to take legal action against the negligent party. To learn more about your options, contact the Northglenn boat accident lawyer of Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., today.
Accidents Caused by Boat Defects
Boat defects, although not the most common cause of boating accidents, can prove extremely dangerous when they do exist, potentially leaving any boaters or nearby swimmers seriously injured. Typically, these defects are considered the responsibility of a boat manufacturer or parts producer, as their duty is to create boats and products that will not unduly endanger the lives of those who use their products. Thus, if a boat isn’t manufactured or designed properly and innocent parties are harmed as a result, the manufacturer of the defective piece may be held legally liable for these injuries and related expenses.
Boating While Intoxicated
Like driving while intoxicated, drunk boating is dangerous and potentially deadly, putting those onboard the boat as well as others nearby in harm’s way. Reckless, inebriated boat operators may not be able to react in time to avoid boating accidents, leading to devastating injuries due to the risk of both blunt force trauma and drowning. However, although boating under the influence is a criminal offense, those injured because of intoxicated boaters also have the option of seeking compensation for their damages through civil lawsuits with the help of our Northglenn boat accident attorneys.
Boating Collisions with Stationary Objects
Boating accidents that involve collisions with stationary objects may, regrettably, result in serious injuries for those involved. These accidents may occur for a variety of reasons and may cause different injuries depending on circumstances, such as how fast the boat was moving at the time of the collision.
Regardless of the cause of the boating accident, an individual or party responsible for the accident may be held liable for the resulting injuries if their negligent actions caused the accident. Considering that these injuries often require expensive emergency care and may demand long-term medical attention, the financial compensation potentially awarded in a civil lawsuit can prove crucial for a household’s financial stability.
Swimmer Collisions
Boat operators are responsible for paying attention to people who may be swimming in the same area where they are using their boats. If a boater strikes a swimmer with his or her watercraft, the swimmer can sustain serious and even deadly injuries that often require emergency medical care. In these situations, the negligent boater can be held accountable for the damages he or she causes and may be obligated to cover the injured swimmer’s medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. Connect with a Northglenn boat accident attorney to learn more.
Drowning
Any time a person is out on the water, whether boating or swimming, he or she faces the risk of drowning. To help mitigate this threat, boat operators should always have enough flotation devices onboard for all passengers, and they should pay constant, close attention to the water to ensure that they do not accidentally run over swimmers. Unfortunately, however, not all boat operators act as carefully as they should, potentially causing others to suffer in drowning accidents.
Although drowning is often fatal, victims of boating accidents may survive drowning only to face a host of ensuing health problems. The lack of oxygen circulated to the brain during drowning can cause extensive brain damage, possibly disabling a person for the rest of his or her life. In these situations, the person or party at fault for the accident can and should be held accountable for all of the damages they caused.
Work With a Northglenn Boat Accident Attorney
Boat operators may not necessarily have the same safety regulations as drivers on the road, but there are still some important, common-sense precautions that everyone must follow while on the water. If boat drivers fail to operate their watercraft safely, their reckless behavior can put everyone around them at risk of serious injuries. Thus, it is imperative for victims of boating accidents to hold unsafe boat operators accountable for their negligence in order to discourage this carelessness in the future. Call today to begin working with a Northglenn boat accident lawyer.
