Greer Boat Accident Lawyer

Being injured on a boat can have a drastic impact on your health, along with other losses.

The American Boating Association notes that there were 2,559 injuries and 613 deaths resulting from 4,168 recreational boating accidents in 2019. While the circumstances of each individual accident matter, it may be likely that a substantial portion of recorded boating accidents, injuries, and deaths are due to preventable causes. 

If you or a loved one is a victim of a preventable boating accident, then you may be able to collect compensation for your losses. A Greer boat accident lawyer may be able to handle your case for awards from start to finish. 

Boating Accidents May Be Preventable

There are many tips for preventing boating disasters, with guidance involving both what you should do before departing the dock and how to act once you are on the water. Some pre-departure steps to take include:

• Checking weather forecasts and scrapping your trip if you are in for rough weather, as advised by the National Weather Service
• Checking the seaworthiness and safety of your boat and ensuring that your lifejackets are numerous and functional, as the Department of Homeland Security recommends
• Taking boating safety courses, which are accessible online through organizations such as the BoatUS Foundation
• Ensuring that specific safety equipment, such as navigational devices, depth-finding devices, radios, and satellite phones, is operational before departing
• Informing all passengers of safety and emergency procedures

Once you leave the dock, you may encounter a greater measure of unpredictability. Changing tides, rough waters, other boaters, and swimmers are among the variables that could spell potential trouble. In order to protect yourself, your passengers, and others outside of the boat, you may:

• Refrain from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, especially if you are the one driving the boat
• Ensure that you have eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and other visual aids on you and ready when they are necessary
• Drive in a cautious manner
• Make your passengers aware of any moves you are going to make, such as acceleration, that could cause them to lose their balance
• Accelerate in a steady, predictable manner
• Be cognizant of other boaters and swimmers at all times
• Be aware of depths and navigation signals at all times
• Designate somebody to keep an eye on anybody you are towing behind the boat

The issue of safe alcohol consumption may be particularly relevant for boaters, as boating activities and alcoholic beverages may be synonymous for some. 

Responsible Alcohol Consumption Means Boating Safety

Consuming intoxicating amounts of alcohol is not conducive to safe boating. Boaters who are legally intoxicated may be more of a threat to cause an accident and harm themselves and others than those who have not consumed alcohol.

The U.S. Coast Guard notes several of the dangers that come from boating under the influence of alcohol or other substances. They include:

• Boat operators becoming less coordinated in their driving movements
• Boat operators exercising less caution and poorer judgement
• Boat operators experiencing a decline in their vision
• Boat operators losing their balance

Being intoxicated while driving a boat may put oneself, one’s passengers, other motorists, other boat occupants, and those in the water at risk of serious injury or death. Whether your injuries or a loved one’s death was the result of an intoxicated boater or other forms of negligence, a Greer boat accident lawyer may be able to determine fault and help you pursue compensation for your losses.

Greer Boat Accidents Lawyer Near Me(888) 612-7001

A Lawyer May Be Able to Help You Hold Negligent Boaters Accountable

Boaters have a responsibility to others, just as motor vehicle drivers and others with a duty of care do. Acting in any way that puts others at risk of injury or failing to take basic safety precautions could make someone liable in the case that they caused you or a loved one to be injured or to pass away.

Hiring a lawyer may allow you to seek justice for any boat accident-related losses. Your lawyer will defend your rights, allow you to focus your attention on matters other than your pursuit of compensation, and may also:

• Determine whether any form of insurance would cover your losses
• Negotiate a settlement through any applicable insurance policies
• Explain to you the merits of filing a lawsuit if it applies in your case
• File your lawsuit
• Organize evidence related to your accident
• Interview witnesses to your accident
• Consult experts regarding boating safety practices and liability
• Making in-person appearances on your behalf
• Negotiating a pre-trial settlement based on the value of your accident-related losses
• Completing a trial if it is necessary

Your lawyer negotiating a settlement or winning a judgement could mean that you will be able to obtain awards covering losses from your accident.

Potential Awards From a Boat Accident Lawsuit

The awards that your lawyer pursues for you will depend on the losses that you suffered because of a boat accident. Some potential forms of compensation include coverage for:

• Lost income while you recover from your injuries
• Harm to your long-term earning power
• Changes to your appearance caused by your accident
• Psychological and emotional trauma, as well as treatment for such trauma
• Medical expenses for physical injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Any other accident-related losses

There are several types of boating accidents that could cause severe injury, including but not limited to being struck by a boat as a swimmer or being hit by an active propeller. Your lawyer may account for and document all of your losses and fight for the compensation that you may be entitled to.

Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Today

A Greer boat accident lawyer can make winning you compensation their mission while you focus on getting better. Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for more Let us work hard for the awards that you deserve.

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