If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a boating accident caused by reckless operation, equipment failure, mechanical defects, or another form of negligence, you may wonder whether you should hire an attorney to manage your claim or try to handle the process alone. Having a lawyer on your side allows you to focus on healing while someone else advocates for you and fights for the money you deserve.
Working with a boat accident lawyer ensures you have someone in your corner who understands local laws and how they apply to your case. They will take steps to protect your rights, develop a strong claim, and recover the compensation you deserve. Consider these seven reasons why you might want to hire an attorney to handle your case:
1. Boating Accident Injury Claims Can Get Messy
Boating accident injury claims are often complex. Depending on where and how the accident occurred, you may need to understand maritime law, state boating regulations, federal safety statutes, and comparative negligence laws to determine who is liable and how to recover damages.
A boat accident attorney will understand which laws apply to your case and how to navigate them in overlapping jurisdictions and legal systems. The complexity of these cases can make it difficult to determine critical deadlines or where to file a lawsuit. You do not want to waste time or energy trying to figure this out.
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2. Many Victims Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in Boating Accidents
When multiple boats or personal watercraft collide, someone falls overboard, or a propeller accident occurs, serious injuries could result, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, fractures, and near-drownings. Some of these injuries are life-threatening. Victims who survive may require emergency medical care, surgeries, inpatient rehab, significant time away from work, and ongoing support.
A personal injury lawyer who handles catastrophic injury cases will know how to document your current and future damages, including:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
3. Insurance Carriers Try to Minimize Payments
Insurance companies want to minimize how much they pay. Whether the boat owner is a private individual, a commercial boating company, or another party, their insurance carrier may claim you caused or contributed to your injuries or outright deny your claim.
Your boating accident attorney will know how to handle the insurance adjuster. They will present compelling evidence and negotiate on your behalf, rejecting lowball settlement offers and filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
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4. Your Boating Accident Case Could Have More Than One Liable Party
Negligence and liability in a boat accident are not always clear-cut. Consider these situations:
- A boat driver under the influence of alcohol collided with a jet ski operator who was traveling at excessive speed and not wearing a life jacket.
- A recreational boating company failed to maintain its rental equipment, and an inexperienced operator crashed into another vessel.
- A boat manufacturer released a defective product, which led to a propeller strike injury.
Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and what caused it. This investigation will allow them to uncover all possible at-fault parties. This is important because many states have laws that allow victims to pursue compensation from all potentially liable parties. You may be able to recover more compensation by filing a claim with multiple insurance policies or filing multiple lawsuits.
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5. You Must Preserve the Evidence to Support Your Boating Accident Claim Quickly
Critical evidence can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage from marinas or docks may only be saved for a week or two, and eyewitnesses are difficult to locate once they leave the scene. Your lawyer can preserve evidence quickly, ensuring it is available when you need it to support your claim or lawsuit later.
You will also need to move quickly to seek compensation. Personal injury lawsuits have deadlines. Generally, you have two years to file a lawsuit in Florida under Florida Statutes § 95.11. However, maritime claims have other deadlines under federal law. Your case could have a longer or shorter deadline, depending on the circumstances.
6. Handling Maritime Accidents Requires Someone Familiar With These Laws
When a boat accident occurs on navigable waters, maritime law may apply. This is most likely if you were boating offshore, in a coastal area, or on a river or large lake. This area of law is extremely complex, and some personal injury law firms do not have the relevant knowledge and experience to proceed with these claims.
You will want to work with a boating accident attorney who has significant maritime experience if these laws apply in your case. There are numerous challenges to anticipate in a maritime law case, and you want someone on your side who knows how to build a successful strategy to overcome them.
7. Hiring a Lawyer Means You Don’t Have to Deal With the Legal Stress Alone
If you suffered a serious boating injury, you should focus on treatment and healing. You need all your energy for rehabilitation and likely do not have time to argue with insurers or determine how to file legal paperwork. A boat accident lawyer will take on the burden of your personal injury claim. You can heal while your case moves forward.
Having a lawyer handling your case should give you peace of mind. You can continue your recovery while knowing you have someone on your side managing your claim.
If your loved one died from boat accident injuries, working with a wrongful death lawyer can also protect your emotional health and allow you to grieve with your family without having to worry about the legal side of things.
Talk to Our Team About Your Boat Accident Injuries for Free
If you or someone you love was hurt in a boat accident in Florida or Massachusetts, GED Lawyers is here. You do not have to face the legal system alone. A boating accident lawyer from our team will protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation.
