Taking a boat out on the water can be a great way to relax with friends and family, but danger is still present on rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Boating accidents can lead to serious injury and help is often not readily available. An experienced personal injury attorney like Elissa M. Coombs of the Law Office of David E. Gordon is here to help you.
If you suffered injuries while on the water due to someone else’s negligence, then you could be entitled to compensation. A Cordova boat accident lawyer could investigate the incident and advise on whether pursuing a lawsuit is the best path for you to take to seek justice.
Common Causes of Boat Accidents
Many factors could contribute to a boat injury but certain situations arise with alarming frequency. Unfortunately, alcohol use is a factor in many serious boat accidents. Using alcohol while operating a vessel is illegal, and operators with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher are presumed to be impaired.
Operator inexperience also frequently leads to accidents on the water. Tennessee requires operators born after Jan 1, 1989 to complete a boating safety course. Other common causes of accidents include speeding, operator inattentiveness, unsafe weather conditions, and mechanical failure.
Negligence could be a factor in any of these circumstances. Often, several parties’ negligence combined leads to an injury. A local boat accident attorney could look into the specific situation and identify all the potentially negligent parties.
Proving Negligence in Boating Accidents
An injured person must be able to prove that someone else was negligent in order to win compensation. Negligence can take many forms and essentially means that someone did not take reasonable care to protect others from foreseeable risks. Violating the law can be proof of negligence but proving negligence does not require the client to show that the defendant violated any laws.
Failing to maintain a vessel is not illegal but could be considered negligent if it leads to an accident. Similarly, operating a boat in rough waters is not illegal but could be negligent if the boat was not designed to be seaworthy in those conditions, or if the operator was inexperienced. A Cordova boating vessel collision lawyer like Elissa can gather evidence showing that the at-fault party acted in a way that violated their duty to use reasonable care.
Client’s Negligence Could Impact Damages
Accidents often are the fault of more than one person, which sometimes includes the injured person. The law makes every party to an accident responsible for the effects of their own misconduct. In a trial, a jury is responsible for allocating the percentage of fault between the parties, including the person who brought the suit. A boat operator who was drunk or who was operating without a license can be considered partially liable if they are injured in a collision.
Seek Help from a Cordova Boat Accident Attorney
If you are recovering from a boat accident, it can be difficult to focus on anything other than your physical recovery. However, it is in your best interest to look into working with a legal professional like Elissa M. Coombs of the Law Office of David E. Gordon to preserve your rights to compensation. She can analyze your case and determine how much you could potentially recover from the negligent party and whether you might bear any liability that could reduce your final award.
Call a Cordova boat accident lawyer right away to get a committed advocate working for you.
