Boat Accidents
Additional Information
Legal Help for Injuries Caused by Boating Collisions
Whether relaxing and having fun or traveling, boats are an increasingly popular activity. But what happens when a day at sea goes awry? Boating accidents occur all too often with the nearly 14 million registered watercrafts in this country, and victims can be left with catastrophic injuries. From brain injuries to losing a limb, injuries from a boating accident are likely to impact you for the rest of your life.
The Husband & Wife Law Team has worked with many clients unfortunate enough to suffer debilitating injuries at the hands of other negligent individuals. We know just how devastating these kinds of accidents can be. That is why we have chosen to take a stand and fight for compensation for victims injured by negligent boaters. If you need an attorney who will demand proper compensation for your damages, call our firm. We won’t back down until we get you every cent owed.
How Do Boat Accidents Happen?
Boat accidents, like all other vehicle accidents, can happen for any number of reasons. Sometimes the one at fault is the operator, sometimes it’s the manufacturer of the boat, and sometimes the liable party is the group responsible for maintaining the waterway, lake, or river. Some common causes of accidents include:
Operator error or inexperience
Vessel collisions
Falling overboard
Fires
Negligent safety precautions
Carbon dioxide poisoning
Alcohol use
Excessive speed
Machinery defect or failure
Boat accidents, how ever they are caused, are incredibly dangerous. This doesn’t just go for traditional boats, as houseboats, which have risen in popularity in Arizona, are just as dangerous, if not more so as you may be asleep or otherwise distracted when disaster strikes.
The Danger of Boating Accidents
The greatest danger when it comes to boating accidents is the very real possibility of drowning. Leaving your vessel, even if it has caught fire due to a mechanical failure, can be nearly as dangerous as staying. However, drowning isn’t the only danger associated with boating accidents. Other possible injuries include:
Carbon dioxide poisoning
These kinds of injuries, if they do not prove to be fatal, can stay with you your entire life. Some could even result in a disability that may force you to completely change the way you live your day-to-day life. On top of that, you will have to contend with medical bills, time away from work, and lingering emotional trauma. That is difficult to recover from without proper compensation. That is why, if proper rules and regulations were broken, or people were acting negligently, you should consider filing a claim against the at-fault party.
Arizona Boating Regulations
While Arizona is a landlocked state, it has many lakes and rivers that boaters can take advantage of. In fact, boating is a very popular pastime for many Arizonans. As such, the Arizonan government has many rules in place in order to protect people on the water. Some key regulations are:
There must always be a fire extinguisher onboard
There must always be throwable flotation devices onboard
Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited
Boat operators must go appropriate speeds, especially in “no wake” zones
There should be at least one flotation device per passenger on board
Boats must be properly registered with the local authorities
Boat accidents must be reported as soon as is possible to local authorities
If a fellow passenger, the operator of the boat you are on, the owner of the boat you are on, or the operator if a different boat neglects to follow these rules, and thus causes an accident, then you are fully within your rights to hold them accountable.
Call a Phoenix Boating Injury Attorney at The Husband & Wife Law Team
Our injury attorneys combine years of experience with a deep understanding of personal injury law. From the start of a claim through the investigation, discovery, and in-court process, we take pride in each case and each victory on our clients' behalf.
Have you been injured in a boat crash? You do not have to suffer the physical, emotional, and financial effects of the negligent operator without recourse. Contact our boat accident lawyers today by calling us for a free case consultation and more information on how we can help you. If you have not yet decided whether filing a claim is right for you, that is OK, too. The Husband & Wife Law Team is happy to provide you with the information and answers you need to make the best decision for you.