What should I know about boat accidents? How can a boat accident attorney help me?

Sailing is a popular recreational activity in California. Its 840-mile-long coastline and over 3000 lakes make it a prime location for marine and maritime industries, including recreational and commercial boaters. Considering these factors, California has a steady demand for boat accident lawyers. 

Boating accident lawyers all know how unpredictable seas and lakes can be. Of course, you can set sail during calm weather, but it can dramatically change without any warnings. Rough seas and unsafe conditions can easily lead to severe injuries or even fatalities. Regardless of what caused your accident, you might need to consult a lawyer to help you get compensation for damages from your maritime mishap. 

Here are some details you must know about boat accidents and boating accident lawyers:

What Is The Cause Of Most Fatal Boating Accidents?

Recreational boating can go from fun to dangerous within minutes. Many factors come into play when you’re sailing. However, getting hooked on the joy of sailing can result in deadly situations. According to the US Coast Guard’s 2020 Recreational Boating Statistics, here are the top five primary boat accident types:

• Collisions with other recreational vessels
• Swamping or Flooding
• Collision with a fixed object in the water
• Grounding
• Falling overboard

Its statistics also show that many deaths can be caused by not wearing life jackets. Here are the primary contributing factors:

• Operator’s lack of attention and experience
• Improper lookout
• Unnecessarily high speed
• Boat or vessel’s machine failure
• Violating navigation rules
• Use of Alcohol 
• Influence of weather 
• Dangerous waters
• Strong waves

Whether you got involved in a boating accident in San Diego or Los Angeles, you’ll need a California boat accident attorney as long as your accident happened within California’s territorial waters. You can learn more about boating accident lawyers here.

When Is A Written Boating Accident Report Required?

After an injury, you might feel confused because you usually need to deal with legal needs and medical treatments. Aside from getting medical care, one of the most important things to do next is to report your boating accident.  According to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), you must submit a report if it results in:

• Death
• Disappearance
• Injury
• Damage To Vessel Exceeding $500
• Loss Of Vessel

Submitting a report also involves some paperwork, which should be easy to manage. However, even this can prove difficult if you’re still recovering from an injury. Of course, getting a lawyer’s help can lighten the load of doing messy paperwork and more. 

How Quickly Must You File A Boating Accident?

You must also consider appropriate deadlines based on the details of your accident. Your report must also follow these timelines:

• Death (must be reported within 24 hours of accident)
• The disappearance of a person/s (within 48 hours of accident)
• Injury needing medical care beyond first aid (within 48 hours of accident)

Also, you must submit the following reports to the DBW within ten days of the accident:

• Fatality beyond 24 hours after the accident
• Vessel damage valued over $500 or lost vessel

Failing to submit a report has repercussions. Generally, this can become a misdemeanor with a fine not exceeding $1,000, under six months of imprisonment, or both. An experienced boating accident lawyer can help you follow these according to the details of your case. 

How Can A Lawyer Help You?

A boating accident poses many risks, causing various injuries, such as burns, broken bones, spinal injuries, lacerations, brain injuries, amputations, and even death. These and medical bills can devastate victims and their loved ones. 

If you have suffered injuries in a boating accident, a lawyer has the expertise to help you determine negligent parties and fight for your compensation. Our boating accident lawyers here at Jacoby and Meyers also offer a free consultation. It can help you understand your legal rights and begin building a case to seek the highest compensation possible to cover all your costs and losses.

In addition, an attorney can help you:

• Prove negligence
• Define the Cost of Damages
• Build a strong claim
• Negotiate a Settlement
• Proceed with important deadlines in mind

Give us a call today at 888-960-0480 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help you.

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