If you have been on a boating accident in Indiana or on a Great Lake, a personal injury lawyer from The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers can help.
Indiana residents enjoy over 100 natural and man-made lakes. People flock to these bodies of water to boat, fish, and engage in water recreation. Unfortunately, these fun summer activities can quickly become dangerous in the event of a boating accident.
In 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,145 recreational boating accidents across the country. These accidents resulted in 633 deaths and $46 million in property damage.
Although recreational boating is a leisure activity, operating a boat requires skill and sound decision-making. Motored large boats have significant engine power and the ability to move at high speeds. High weights and speeds can cause serious damage if a boat collides with another object or capsizes.
Anyone using a recreational boat must understand the dangers that are inherent to the activity. Boat drivers must safely maneuver their vessels and take necessary precautions to avoid an accident whenever possible. If a boater fails to exercise due caution, they put themselves and everyone on the water at risk of a serious injury.
If a negligent or reckless boater injured you or a loved one, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm the person caused. You should never have to pay the price for another person’s poor decisions, and the Indiana boating accident attorneys at The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help.
You need compensation as soon as possible after a serious boating accident, so hire an Indiana injury attorney right away. Contact The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers at 574-347-4337 today to set up a
Why You Need an Attorney
Filing an injury claim after a boating accident yourself can be difficult. You would need to follow the proper filing procedures, gather enough evidence, and make a strong argument for compensation.
The good news is you don’t have to do it yourself. A skilled boating accident attorney can demand the compensation you deserve on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.
Your lawyer will collect evidence to build an effective case. When they have a strong legal argument, they can negotiate with the boater’s insurance company for a fair, full settlement on your behalf. They will also help you navigate your claim, answer your questions, and offer high-quality legal advice. Most importantly, your lawyer understands how to maximize your compensation for your case. They’ll never let you accept an offer lower than what you deserve.
When you work with a skilled boating attorney, like ours at The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers, you can rest easy that your claim will be legally sound and likely to win you significant financial damages.
Why Choose The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Case?
The attorneys at The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers understand the devastation you face after a boating accident. You need to recover the money you lost and manage your physical and emotional trauma at the same time. The lawyers at The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers are ready to help you get the financial support you need.
The Lockwood Legal Group, LLC was founded by James H. Lockwood who is a native to South Bend and the surrounding areas. We understand our community’s unique needs and challenges. We take pride in the compassionate service and high-quality legal counsel we provide to our clients.
Our attorneys implement individualized solutions for every case, so we can take action based on the specific circumstances of your accident, not generalities.
Our dedication to our clients and our extensive legal experience sets The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers apart, and we have the track record to prove it. The attorneys at The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements, and we’re ready to put our skills to work for you.
Types of Vessels Involved in Boating Accidents
Most people think about motorboats as the primary type of vessel involved in boating accidents. These boats can move through the water quickly, which increases their potential to cause serious harm. The U.S. Coast Guard documented that motorboats were involved in approximately 50% of all 2018 boating fatalities.
Despite the increased risk of an accident caused by a motorboat, a wide variety of other watercraft cause injuries every year. Each kind of vessel presents unique dangers that could lead to injury if operated inappropriately. Small boats may seem safe, but operators and passengers of smaller, non-motorized boats, like Sunfish, face increased dangers when they collide with another vessel.
A few of the many different types of boats involved in boating accidents include:
- Cabin cruiser boats
- Yachts
- Jet-skis, or personal watercraft boats
- Wakeboard, waterski, and sport boats
- Kayaks
- Paddleboards
- Sailboats
A boating accident involving any of these vessels may have serious consequences, including physical, emotional, and financial harm. If another boater caused your accident, you might be able to seek compensation from the responsible party with the help of a skilled boating accident attorney.
Primary Causes of Boating Accidents
Operating a boat comes with a high level of responsibility because of the many risks on the water. Both Indiana state and federal laws regulate boating in order to reduce the number of boat accidents. Unfortunately, many boaters ignore these regulations and engage in reckless behaviors.
Boating is fun, so it’s easy to ignore the inherent hazards, especially when there are few other close boats. That’s no excuse for negligence or recklessness. Piloting a boat can be just as dangerous as driving a car when operators disregard the safety of others.
The top ten causes of boating accidents are:
- Operator distraction
- Improper lookout
- Inexperienced boaters
- Mechanical failure
- Speeding
- Using alcohol or drugs
- Dangerous water conditions, like high waves
- Poor weather conditions
- Violating navigation rules
- Boating in hazardous water
Skilled and cautious boat operators prevent accidents by following the law and using good judgment about when and how to use their boat. Avoiding an accident should be the priority for anyone operating a watercraft. It’s not only the right thing to do. It’s the law.
When boaters fail to exercise due caution or meet their duty of care to operate their boat safely, they cause injuries. If this happened to you or your family member, you have the right to demand compensation for their recklessness.
Common Boating Accident Injuries
Boating accidents cause serious injuries. They may be the result of the impact of the accident or prolonged exposure to the water. Wearing a life jacket is an important safety precaution, but it can’t prevent every kind of injury.
Some of the most common boating accident injuries include:
- Lacerations and bruises
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Damage to the lungs from water inhalation
- Hypothermia
These injuries may require emergency medical care as well as ongoing treatment. Essential treatment for your health and well-being carries significant financial strain, but you don’t have to just accept the cost.
You shouldn’t suffer financial ruin because of someone else’s reckless actions. A skilled boating accident lawyer will help you seek the compensation you deserve so that you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your financial future after a boating accident.
Possible Compensation After a Boating Accident
A serious boating accident can cause both physical injuries and extensive property damage. Paying out of pocket can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A boating accident injury claim can help you seek financial support to manage the injury’s impact on your life.
With the help of a lawyer, you can force the at-fault party to pay for the damages they caused. They may be liable for both economic and non-economic damages, including but not limited to:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Past and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation services
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Inability to work
- Temporary or permanent disability
The type and severity of your boating accident will determine how much compensation the person who hurt you owes. Your attorney can evaluate your case and account for the full cost of your injury. At The Lockwood Legal Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers, our experienced lawyers will negotiate to ensure that you receive the full, fair settlement you deserve.
Unfortunately, some boating accidents are fatal. If you’ve faced the devastating loss of someone you love due to a boating accident, an attorney can help you file a wrongful death claim. This type of claim will allow you to seek compensation to manage your family member’s funeral costs, your loss of consortium, and lost future income.
Contact The Lockwood Legal Group, LLC today!
If you think you might have a case, it is crucial you contact a qualified attorney right away. We understand litigation is often daunting to those who are not attorneys. but rest assured, we will be here for you all throughout the process. No one fights harder for their clients then attorneys of The Lockwood Legal Group, LLC.
Free Consultation & Flexible Appointment Options
The initial consultation is FREE! So contact us right away. We can arrange a virtual appointment, in-person appointment at our office, or even travel to your home to meet you and your family.
Contact The Lockwood Legal Group for a free consultation today! Call US or send us an email.
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