Boating accidents can happen at any time. The rate of boating accidents increases during the warm spring and summer months when more people are out on the water. In fact, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were over 5,200 boating accidents in 2020 alone. These incidents resulted in over 3,000 injuries and more than 760 fatalities. When we think of boat incidents, we might think of boat crashes, or boat capsizing, or even boat fires; however, boat incidents can include the incidents that we are all very familiar with, like slip and falls, trip and falls, and falling object incidents, for example.
If you or a loved one suffered harm in a boat accident, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit. Whether you have already started the legal process or are still considering filing a lawsuit, you can trust that our lawyers here at the Normandie Law Firm can provide you with the guidance that you need to successfully file your claim and recover the payout that you are owed. Our lawyers are 100% committed to our clients and to getting them the best settlement available.
If you have questions about the possible value of your boating accident claim, do not hesitate to contact our experts immediately. Our lawyers are ready to help you every step of the way.
Some Examples of Possible Boat Accidents
There are many types of accidents that could occur on boats. Some of these accidents can include the following:
- Falls overboard (falling off the boat into the water)
- Capsizing (overturned boat)
- Collisions with objects
- Collisions with boats
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Falling object incidents
Although some of the incidents might seem more serious that others, all of these incidents can potentially lead to devastating injuries.
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Examples of Boat Accident Injuries
Without a doubt, all parties involved in boat accidents can suffer a number of injuries. Some of these injuries can include the following:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Hip injuries
- Knee injuries
- Fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Scrapes and bruises
- Lacerations
- Burn injuries
- Near-drowning injuries
Unfortunately, some boat incidents can have fatal consequences. Regardless of how you or a loved one was injured on a boat, whether it was a slip and fall on a boat or you were hit by an object in the head, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit for the harm suffered. For more information about the legal options available to you, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm immediately.
Different Types of Boats
The different types of boats that these accidents and injuries can occur on are listed below:
- Fishing boats
- Dinghy boats
- Deck boats
- Bowrider boats
- Catamaran boats
- Cuddy cabin boats
- Center console boats
- Houseboats
- Trawler boats
- Cabin cruiser boats
- Game boats
- Motor yacht boats
- Personal watercraft boats
- Runabout boats
- Jet boats
- Pontoon boats
- Sedan bridge boats
If you were injured on any type of boat, you could have grounds to file an injury lawsuit. Additionally, if a loved one suffered fatal injuries, you could have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Can I Sue the Owner of the Boat?
Depending on the details surrounding the incident, the owner of the boat could be strictly liable for the harm that you or a loved one suffered. This is because boat owners have a duty to ensure that their boats are safe and free of hazards. Therefore, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against the boat owner for the harm that you or a loved one suffered.
My Accident Occurred on a Rental Boat
Unfortunately, many accidents occur on rental boats, including rental party boats and rental yachts. When the incident occurs on a rental boat, liability could be a bit more complicated. Many people might automatically blame the rental boat company, but these companies are typically only liable for boating incidents if they knowingly rented out a defective or hazardous boat or if they failed to review boat safety with the renter, for example. So, who is liable for rental boat accidents? Typically, when someone rents a boat, he or she is likely to sign a waiver accepting all liability for any incidents that occur on the boat. In some cases, insurance could be offered at the time of the rental, so coverage for these incidents on rental boats could vary.
How Long Do I Have to Sue?
Boat accident claims that cake place on the ocean, on a lake, on a river, etc. – essentially on any navigable water – are subject to federal maritime law. What does this mean? Federal maritime law gives claimants a total of three years to file claims. This means that claimants will have three years to file their lawsuits after a boating accident. For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your claim, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers will ensure that you file your claim on time.
Major Insurance Companies that Offer Boating Accident Insurance
Whether you own a boat or are considering renting a boat, it is important that you have insurance. Although boating insurance is not a requirement in most states, having insurance can prove to be necessary especially considering the risk of incidents occurring on boats. The major insurance companies that offer boat insurance coverage include the following: Allstate; Progressive; Markel; Nationwide; Foremost; State Farm; United Marine Underwriters; BoatUS; Geico; Chubb.
If you found yourself injured in a boating accident, you might have to deal with one of these insurance companies. These companies tend to offer coverage with high policy limits. This is something to consider when trying to determine the possible value of a boating accident injury lawsuit.
What is the Average Value of a Boating Accident Injury Lawsuit?
If your boating accident claim is successful, you could definitely have grounds to recover compensation. The categories of compensation available for recovery could include the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
Here at our law firm, our lawyers are dedicated to getting our clients the highest recovery available for the harm that they suffered.
How much can I recover? This is a difficult question to answer – as the specific payout that you could receive will be based on the details surrounding your accident claim. Some of the factors that can affect the value of a boating accident claim include the following:
- The type of injuries suffered
- The severity of the injuries (in terms of the extent of medical treatment required)
- The permanency of the injuries (whether the victim can make a full or partial recovery)
- The victim’s earning history
- The victim’s earning capacity after the incident
- The effect that the accident had on the victim’s day to day life
You might also be wondering about the average value of these incidents. What is the average value of boating accident claims similar to mine? The value of these claims can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned above. In general, the average value of injury claims with minor injuries can fall under $300,000. More moderate injuries can be associated with average values ranging from $300,000 to $500,000. Severe injuries can be associated with average values of up to $750,000 and sometimes more. In fact, some injury claims can reach the million-dollar mark.
If you are interested in learning more about the average value of boating accident claims, do not hesitate to contact our experts as soon as possible. Our lawyers can help you review past claim values and help you better understand the average value of your claim.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Boating Accident Injury Claim?
The time that it takes to settle a boat injury claim will vary significantly from case to case. On average, these cases can be settled within eight months, but even minor complications can take the settlement process to take up to eighteen months. In cases in which there are many complex issues, the settlement process can take up to 2 years – and sometimes even longer.
Here at our law firm, our lawyers are dedicated to settling boat accident cases within a reasonable length of time. We always work towards settling our claims within 6 to 8 months; however, we are always upfront with our clients and let them know that sometimes a fair settlement is not possible within this timeframe. You can trust that our lawyers will do everything in their power to get you the best settlement possible within a reasonable time frame.
My current lawyer is taking too long to settle my case. What can I do? Sometimes, the settlement process takes long because of issues with the case – usually with the insurance company. However, it is possible for the delay to be directly associated with the legal team handling the claim. If your lawyer is inexperienced with boat accident claims or simply overwhelmed with other cases, your case might not get the attention that it needs. This is typically clear when things seem not to be moving forward at all. If your current lawyer is taking too long to settle your case, you should seek a free second opinion with our lawyers. Our lawyers will immediately start working on your case to get you the settlement that you’ve been waiting for as quickly as possible.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
Here at our Firm, we are proud to offer free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer questions, address concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your boat accident lawsuit – or simply learn more about the possible value of your claim. We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, which means that our clients will not have to pay upfront legal costs. In addition, we work on a strict contingency structure; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay legal fees until after winning their claims. If you do not win, you will not be responsible for any legal costs at all. If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us today. Our boat accident lawyers are ready to help you with your claim.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Chartered Boat Rental Injury
Average Settlements of Boating Accidents
