River, Lake, & Camping Injury
Additional Information
Need an Attorney After an Accident Outdoors? Call Us
Arizona may be landlocked, but there are many beautiful rivers and lakes throughout the state. The Colorado River, Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and Lake Mohave are just a few popular places for people to have a day at the beach, take the boat out, or camp nearby.
While these areas can provide the perfect backdrop for a great day, accidents still happen. Sometimes, those accidents are somebody else’s fault. Drunk boat operators may cause a collision, or the shower area inside a campground may be dangerously slippery. When individuals are injured by someone else’s negligence, they may be eligible for compensation, including medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
But filing a civil claim for a recreational accident can be difficult, and if not filed properly, the claim may be thrown out of court. If you were injured in a river, lake, or camping accident, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer at The Husband & Wife Law Team, in a free case evaluation.
What Are Some Common River and Lake Accidents?
The most common accidents that occur in rivers and lakes are boating accidents. The most common causes of these accidents are:
Operator error
Operator inexperience
Operator intoxication
Equipment failure
Speeding
Distracted driving
Overloaded boat
If the boat operator is negligent and causes injuries to other people, he can be held legally responsible. In some cases, the boat or its equipment may be defective. When that malfunction caused an accident, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
While boating is the usual cause of injuries down at a river or lake, it’s not the only thing that can go wrong. A person on shore may become intoxicated and hurt someone else, or negligent supervision could lead to a child drowning.
Whatever the case, whenever someone is negligent and causes a river or lake accident, that person can be held responsible for paying compensation to injury victims.
What Are Some Common Camping Accidents?
There are many things that can go wrong while camping. A tent may collapse and trap people underneath, or a spill at an indoor facility could cause a slip-and-fall. Someone could fail to control a campfire, resulting in burn injuries to bystanders. Animal attacks are also a danger.
The same legal concept of negligence holds true in these situations. In the example of the tent, manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe to use. When they fail to do so, they can be held responsible, as long as the accident victims used the tent in the way it was intended to be used.
Property owners are also required to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition for lawful visitors. When they do not and someone gets hurt, they may be held liable through a civil claim and be required to pay compensation to the victim.
However, because camping often happens out in the wilderness, there is some assumption of risk for the campers. Filing a claim against a campground has its own challenges. When the campground is public and government-owned, it can be even more difficult. Federal, state, and municipal governments have certain immunities in place that bar citizens from filing claims against them. Even when you do have a case, there are different time limits and processes for filing a claim.
Call a Camping Injury Attorney Before It’s Too Late
If you have been injured in a river, lake, or camping accident, you only have two years from the date of your injuries to file a claim. There may be compensation available, and our attorneys want to help you get it. Don’t wait another minute, call The Husband & Wife Law Team today to speak to an camping accident lawyer.