Many people living in Northern Alabama enjoy water sports and recreation activities. Our area is a paradise for boating and fishing. You can enjoy boating on the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, and many other beautiful water areas. While boating can be a great way to spend the summer, boat crashes frequently occur, causing devastating injuries to drivers and passengers. Boat accidents typically happen when a watercraft capsizes, collides with another vessel, or hits an underwater obstruction.
When you suffer injuries in a boating crash, a hardworking personal injury attorney could help you recover monetary damages for your physical injuries, the cost of medical care, and other related expenses. A Huntsville boat accident lawyer could help you obtain the financial compensation you deserve.
How Do Boat Crashes Occur?
Most boat accident claims are based on the theory of negligence. However, a defective boat part can cause an accident on the water, leading to severe injuries. Some of the most common causes of boat accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Inadequate training
- Speeding or reckless boating
- Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Mechanical failures or defective boat parts
- Inclement weather or poor boating conditions
These are just some of the ways boating accidents occur. Boat operators have a duty to operate their boats safely and to keep their passengers safe by following boating rules. They must also equip their vessels with the appropriate safety equipment.
Who Bears Liability for a Watercraft Collision?
When a boat accident happens, it is crucial to determine what caused the accident and who is legally responsible. Boat drivers owe a duty of care to keep their passengers safe. Boat drivers must follow certain well-settled rules of the water. Therefore, when a negligent boat driver causes a collision, the passengers can sue the liable party. On the other hand, when the operator of another watercraft causes an accident, the operator of that watercraft bears liability. In other cases, a defective boat part can cause an accident, making the manufacturer liable for subsequent injuries.
Determining liability can be difficult in boat accident cases. In some circumstances, there may be multiple liable parties. Under the rules of the water, it’s important to look at all the facts to determine who bears legal responsibility. With this in mind, discussing a watercraft collision case with an experienced lawyer in Huntsville who could determine the accident cause and legal responsibility is essential.
Filing a Boat Accident Lawsuit
Boat accident victims often suffer serious injuries. However, a successful personal injury lawsuit could allow victims to recover compensation for the cost of their past and future medical treatment, lost wages, disabilities, and property damage to the boat. The court will also award noneconomic damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering.
Boat operator negligence and defective boat parts are often the primary causes of boat crashes. In personal injury law, the negligent party is legally responsible when passengers or other boaters suffer injuries. That said, the plaintiff filing a lawsuit after a watercraft crash must demonstrate the person they are suing was negligent when operating, maintaining, or manufacturing the boat. A skilled Huntsville attorney could help with this process.
Boat accident cases are also unique because certain special rules and principles apply to accidents on navigable waterways such as the Tennessee River and its lakes. These rules can be very different from the rules in car accident cases. It’s very important to hire a lawyer who understands the unique waterway and boating accident legal issues that can impact your claim for compensation.
Choosing the Right Boat Accident Attorney in Huntsville
You are entitled to financial compensation when someone else’s negligence causes you to get hurt in a boat collision. Consider contacting a Huntsville boat accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights and to pursue a claim for damages.
When someone is negligent in operating, maintaining, or manufacturing a boat, they should be held responsible. Call our legal representatives to schedule a free consultation.
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