Spending time on the water is one of the easiest ways to escape the heat on a broiling summer day. Getting out on a boat also lets you take a break from the day-to-day grind and enjoy nature in peaceful surroundings. However, boating is not without risk. Boating accidents can cause debilitating injuries to passengers, motorists on other watercraft, and people in the water.
When you experience injuries in a boat collision, filing a personal injury suit might be the solution that gives you a chance to get your life back on track. A Woodbridge boat accident lawyer from our firm can investigate the wreck and help you pursue compensation.
Common Causes of Boat Wrecks
There are multiple contributing factors to boating accidents. Most of the time, these collisions take place due to negligence. This means someone’s unreasonable actions or inaction caused an otherwise avoidable accident and injury.
Boater Inexperience
Most commonly, problems out on the water occur because of operator mistakes. Many people underestimate how hard it is to safely operate a boat, and driver inexperience contributes to a large number of wrecks.
Because boating is supposed to be a fun activity, operators often misjudge the seriousness of the task. Just as with vehicles on land, operating vessels on the water requires skill, patience, and practice. When people buy a boat, many do not sit around reading the operating manual and spend time learning about the relevant navigation rules. Instead, they might grab their friends, a few drinks, and jump onboard to explore.
Careless or Reckless Boat Operation
Just as motorists on the road are capable of doing, boaters sometimes approach their duties carelessly. They may speed since there are no posted speed limits. Inattention is also a significant concern. Boaters often fail to look around them and remain alert for impending problems. Recreational boaters may also be more relaxed about their attitude towards drinking. Even people who would never consider opening up a can of beer while behind the wheel of a car might not hesitate to drink while steering a boat.
Mechanical Problems
Sometimes, boat wrecks are due to a third party’s carelessness or mistakes. A boat’s parts may be inherently defective, in which case the boat’s manufacturers might be liable. In other scenarios, someone who did maintenance work on the vessel may bear partial responsibility if they failed to keep the boat in safe working order.
Our Woodbridge Township attorneys can comb through the evidence to learn why the boating accident occurred and who could be potentially liable for damages.
Types of Waterway Accidents
Different types of accidents occur on the water, including but not limited to:
- Falling overboard
- Explosions and fires
- Striking a swimmer
- Grounding into shallow water
- Capsizing, sinking, and flooding
- One boat hitting a structure, such as a dock
- Two vessels colliding with each other, which can result in injuries to people on both boats
Regardless of the type of accident, our experienced Woodbridge team of attorneys can help an injured person collect and preserve evidence, establish fault, and craft a settlement demand that adequately reflects their needs.
Talk to a Woodbridge Boating Accident Attorney Today
People in boating accidents often sustain severe injuries and face challenging recoveries. When somebody else’s negligence leads to your harm, you deserve help.
Talk to a Woodbridge boat accident lawyer from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC to learn more about how we can help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. Contact us now to get started.
