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Boat Accident Attorney in Phenix City

For most of the year, canoeing on the Chattahoochee or motorboating on one of the local lakes is an excellent way to spend a lazy day in Alabama. It is a shame when reckless, inebriated, or negligent people ruin the peace by causing a boat wreck.

If you suffered injuries in a mishap on the water due to another person’s carelessness, you have a right to hold the negligent party financially accountable for your losses. Your damages might include medical costs, lost income, property damage, and compensation for your inconvenience, pain, and suffering.

A Phenix City boat accident lawyer at Bence Law Firm, LLC could investigate an incident to identify all negligent parties and help you pursue fair compensation in a legal claim. You have only two years to file a lawsuit in most cases, so it is wise to seek guidance from a knowledgeable personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Serious Injuries Could Result from Boating Accidents

Boats can be hazardous. Their decks are often slippery, which could lead to a person falling down. Water vessels can also rock in unexpected ways if they cross another boat’s wake, which could cause a passenger to lose their balance and fall overboard. Additionally, many boats carry equipment that could come loose and strike or trip a person.

When boats collide or a vessel strikes an obstruction, the possibility of significant injury increases. Many of these crashes cause fatal injuries, including drowning, while survivors might experience:

These severe injuries can be worsened when they happen on the water. It could take significant time to get an injured person medical treatment, and exposure to the microbes in lakes and rivers could cause infection. A seasoned Phenix City boat wreck attorney could ensure that an injured individual receives full financial recovery for all losses, both economic and non-economic, suffered.

Frequent Causes of Boat Crashes

Many of the factors that cause car accidents also cause boating accidents.  Speeding, reckless operation, distracted operation, operating in poor weather conditions, and mistakes due to inexperience could all cause mishaps on the water.

Intoxicated operators cause a significant percentage of boating incidents. Alabama Motor Vehicles and Traffic Code §32-5A-191.3 applies the same criteria to boaters as drivers regarding operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. An adult with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater would be guilty of boating under the influence, while underage boaters break the law if their BAC exceeds .02.

Some causes of boat accidents are unique to the watercraft. For example, small boats like canoes and kayaks might capsize if they cross a large wake. Additionally, any vessel that hits an obstruction could sink. Finally, boaters and personal watercraft operators who are not attentive could hit swimmers, causing fatal injuries.

Negligent Parties in Water Vessel Incidents

An injured person seeking monetary damages must prove that another party’s negligence was the cause of their injury. They do this by establishing that the other party did not exercise reasonable care and their harm resulted from this failure.

An experienced boat crash lawyer in Phenix City could review witness statements, physical evidence, and the Marine Patrol report, if any, to identify parties whose misconduct contributed to an accident. Any indication that a party did not exercise the caution the situation warranted could be evidence of negligence that triggers liability for the injured person’s damages.

Although the boat operator almost always has some liability, others could be responsible, as well. If a mechanical failure caused the mishap, a manufacturer might be held accountable. If poor maintenance led to a collision, the marina or boat maintenance contractor could be at-fault. If improper channel markings or maintenance caused the mishap, a local government might have some responsibility.

Pursue Your Claim with Help from a Phenix City Boat Accident Attorney

If you are recovering from an injury, you do not need the additional stress of dealing with legal proceedings. You should concentrate on recuperating and allow a professional to engage in negotiations with responsible parties and their insurance companies.

A Phenix City boat accident lawyer could identify all negligent parties and force them to take responsibility for the consequences of their carelessness. Call today to get a capable attorney at Bence Law Firm, LLC on your side.