If you were in an accident with your boat or watercraft and suffered injuries, you may have the right to compensation for your damages.
Learn about how to pursue justice in your case when you work with a Norcross personal injury lawyer at Kaine Law.
Common Types of Injuries Seen in Boating and Watercraft Accidents
Boating and watercraft accidents produce some of the most devastating and debilitating injuries. Individuals dealing with watercraft and boat accidents may find their lives changed by the experience of the accident and their resulting injuries.
Some of the most common types of injuries seen in watercraft and boating accidents include:
- Spinal cord damage, including paralysis, back injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, loss of limbs, herniated discs, and soft tissue injuries
- Emotional trauma, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, agoraphobia, anxiety, and other emotional injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussion, coma, aneurysm, hemorrhage, stroke, or encephalitis
These are only a few common injuries our firm has seen in watercraft and boating accidents. If you suffered other injuries we did not include above, do not hesitate to contact our personal injury firm to find out whether you have grounds for an insurance or civil claim.
For a free legal consultation with a boating & watercraft accident lawyer serving Norcross, call 404-214-2001
How Do Boating and Watercraft Accidents Occur?
Boating and watercraft accidents can happen in many ways. However, boating and watercraft accidents usually occur due to negligent operation. Some examples of negligent operation of a watercraft or boat include:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Tailgating
- Drunk boating
- Boating under the influence of drugs
- Distracted boating
- Boating while fatigued
- Boat operator inexperience
- Failure to adhere to boat traffic laws and regulations
However, negligent operation of the boat is not the only cause of these accidents. Some of the other common causes of boating and watercraft accidents include:
- Defective boat parts
- Defective equipment
- Navigational rules violations
- Rowdy boat passengers
- Improper lookout
- Poor weather conditions
- Boat capsizing
- Falling overboard
- Lack of safety equipment, including lifejackets
These are just a few common ways boat accidents occur. If your boat accident was caused in another way, you may still have grounds for legal action against the responsible party. Your attorney will carefully investigate the accident to reveal what happened and who’s liable.
Norcross Boating & Watercraft Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
Who Is Liable for Your Damages?
Establishing liability is essential in any boating accident claim. The type of boat or watercraft accident you were involved in will help your attorney determine who is at fault for your injuries. For example, if boat operator inexperience or negligence was the cause of your injuries, the boat operator may be held accountable for your damages.
However, if the watercraft or boat was defective or malfunctioned in some way, there are several parties who could share liability for your losses. Some of these parties could include both part manufacturers and distributors, boat part designers, watercraft and boat retailers, safety inspectors, boat technicians, and other third parties.
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What Is the Burden of Proof?
The burden of proof in civil claims is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This is unlike criminal court, where guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, the evidence your attorney introduces at trial must show the judge and jury the defendant is likely at fault for your boat or watercraft accident damages.
Some of the most valuable types of evidence used to prove the elements of negligence are met include:
- Video footage of the boat accident
- Receipts and other documentation
- The boat operator’s blood alcohol concentration levels
- The boat operator’s cell phone records
- Photos of the watercraft accident victim’s injuries
- Testimony from expert witnesses
- Descriptions of the incident from bystanders
- Other forensic evidence
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How to Recover Fair Compensation in a Gwinnett County Boating & Watercraft Accident
If you are hoping to get the most out of your Norcross boating and watercraft accident case, you should be prepared to seek compensation across all potential legal options. Some of the most common ways boat accident victims recover the damages they endured include:
- Filing a boat or watercraft accident claim with the liable party’s insurance provider
- Filing an injury claim with your own boat, health, or other insurance provider
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties in your case
Your personal injury lawyer will carefully evaluate the details of your boat or watercraft accident to determine how to recover fair restitution for your damages. In many cases, an insurance settlement may not be enough to meet your needs. When this happens, do not hesitate to discuss going to court with your attorney.
How Long Do You Have to File Your Case?
Georgia law provides a limited amount of time to file a personal injury case for a boating or watercraft accident. The statute limitations for cases of this nature is only two years (O.C.G.A § 9-3-33). Generally, this will start from the day of the accident and end two years later.
However, depending on the specific details of your case, the statute of limitations may not always be clear. If your lawsuit is not filed before the statute of limitations runs out, you will lose your right to have your case heard at trial.
For this reason, you must act on your boating and watercraft accident claim as soon as possible to avoid discrepancies with the statute of limitations in your case.
Team Up with Our Norcross Boating & Watercraft Accident Lawyer Today
After being involved in a watercraft or boating accident, you may be confused and unsure of what to do next. Fortunately, when you have a Norcross boating & watercraft accident lawyer at Kaine Law advocating for you, you can heal from your injuries while we work on holding the liable party accountable for their negligent actions.
Do not hesitate to contact our office for a no-cost, risk-free consultation today. You can reach us by phone or through our quick contact form to get started on your case.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
