Boat Accident Lawyers: Your Advocate in Maritime Law
The warmer months in spring and summer entice many people to look for ways to enjoy the water and have fun in the sun. Boating and jet skiing are popular spring and summer pastimes because they can be fun and relaxing. Unfortunately, 3,844 recreational boating accidents happened in New York in 2023.
Boating accidents can be traumatic experiences that may result in serious injuries, property damage and loss of life. After being saddled with expenses related to your boating accident, you may feel like you’ll never financially recover. Fortunately, an experienced boating accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
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What Is a Boat Accident Lawyer?
A boat accident lawyer is a personal injury lawyer who focuses on cases involving boating accidents. They represent people who have been hurt or suffered losses because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness on the water. They serve as your champion to ensure the party responsible for your accident is held accountable and provides you with fair compensation for your injury-related expenses and damages.
What Is Considered a Boating Accident?
The United States Coast Guard requires the owner or operator of a recreational vessel to file a report if a boating accident results in death, an injury that requires treatment beyond first aid, a disappearance that indicates injury or death, property and vessel damage of $2,000 or more (some states and territories have lower amounts) or a destroyed boat.
Some examples of boating accidents include:
- Falling overboard
- Grounding, capsizing, sinking or swamping
- Jet ski accident
- Electrocution
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- A propeller or propulsion unit striking you
- Collision with a submerged object
- Fire or explosions caused by equipment
- Being ejected from the boat
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
Alcohol and drug use plays a significant role in the cause of fatal boating incidents in New York. From 2005 to 2023, alcohol and drug use was a primary contributing factor in 20.4% of all boating deaths. Other common causes of boating accidents are:
- Operator inattention: Not paying attention to your surroundings while operating a boat can cause accidents, such as collisions with sharp objects or other vessels.
- Operator inexperience: Operating a boat requires skill and experience. Those who do so without proper training and knowledge of waterway rules pose a risk to other boaters.
- Speeding: Operating a boat at a high speed increases your chances of causing an accident because you have less time to react to unexpected situations.
- Equipment failure: Whenever your equipment fails, whether that involves engine trouble or navigation system failure, it can cause an accident.
How a Boat Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Boating accidents can cause head and brain injuries, broken bones, burns, severe lacerations, spinal cord injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, internal organ injuries, drowning and hypothermia. Any of these serious conditions can put you on a long, costly road to recovery.
Often, victims will file an insurance claim and settle without consulting a boating accident lawyer. Regrettably, it’s common for the other party to offer you less compensation than you deserve.
Instead of settling for less, a boating accident lawyer can help you fight for more.
Build Your Case
One of the primary responsibilities of a boat accident lawyer is to find out what caused your accident and determine the responsible party. The most common liable parties are:
- Operators
- Owners
- Manufacturers
- Rental companies
- Mechanics
- Crews
- Passengers
As your lawyer investigates your case, they’ll gather irrefutable evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, accident reports and photos so you have a strong case.
Provide Legal Support
Boating accident lawyers guide you through your personal injury case. They’ll help you understand the legal process, protect your rights and advise you on the best way to move forward – whether that’s filing an insurance claim, pursuing a lawsuit or negotiating a settlement.
After your case moves forward, your lawyer will represent you in negotiations or court and prevent the other party from minimizing your compensation.
Navigate Maritime Law
Boating accidents often involve tricky maritime laws that differ from regular personal injury laws. Your lawyer needs to be well-versed in these rules and regulations, which cover boating safety, navigation and liability.
Secure Fair Compensation
The most important job your lawyer has is ensuring you receive fair compensation. Fair compensation covers your medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress and future medical needs. Your boating accident lawyer will help you calculate your fair compensation and fight for the best possible outcome.
How to Choose a Boating Accident Lawyer
Choosing a knowledgeable, experienced boating accident lawyer is crucial to receiving a favorable outcome for your case. Taking the time to consider your options and researching boat accident lawyers is always worthwhile. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a boating accident lawyer.
Experience
Experience is one of the most important factors when choosing a lawyer. You’ll want to know how many years of legal experience your lawyer has and their knowledge of federal and state maritime laws and regulations, such as age and operator requirements, life jacket regulations, drinking laws and registration requirements.
Success Rate
You might feel more confident of your lawsuit’s success if you choose one who has a history of winning settlements and verdicts in similar cases. Past case results don’t predict the outcomes of future cases, but they do show what the law firm has accomplished for its clients.
You can look at client testimonials and case outcomes to get insight into the law firm. A practice with many satisfied clients and positive reviews likely has their clients’ best interests in mind.
Communication Skills
Good communication skills are essential for a successful lawyer-client relationship. Your boat accident lawyer should be able to explain the legal process clearly, keep you informed about your case’s progress and negotiate effectively on your behalf. Pay close attention to how they communicate with you during your consultation.
Fee Structure
Before hiring a boating accident lawyer, ensure you know their fee structure. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so they only get paid if your case wins.
Other common fee structures include hourly rates, flat fees and retainer fees. A flat fee is when your lawyer charges a set amount for specific services, such as court hearings, negotiations and consultations. An hourly fee is a pay-by-the-hour arrangement. A retainer fee is like a down-payment that reserves your lawyer’s services. Generally, when your retainer fee falls under a certain amount, your lawyer will charge additional fees.
Credentials
Before you commit to a boating accident lawyer, verify their credentials. You can check their licensing and professional standing through your state’s official agency. This also lets you see any disciplinary actions that may have been taken against them.
Cellino Law Can Help You With Your Boating Accident Claim
Choosing a skilled boat accident lawyer may be key to the success of your case. Luckily, the boating accident lawyers at Cellino Law have the expertise you need. For more than 65 years, Cellino Law has defended clients and achieved countless favorable case outcomes.
Our team of attorneys stands ready to assist you with your boating accident claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.