While boating outings are enjoyable, they can also end in significant injuries if something goes wrong. If you suffered injuries in a boating accident because of someone else’s wrongdoing or carelessness, our experienced Decatur boating accident lawyers are ready to help.
Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for your injuries from the party responsible for the boating accident. Contact the boating accident lawyers of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., now for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and walk you through the personal injury claims process.
Top Reasons to Work with Our Decatur Boat Injury Attorneys
After suffering an injury in a boating accident, you need personal injury attorneys with the knowledge, experience, dedication, and compassion to handle your case. Some of the things you can expect when working with Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., are:
- Knowledge – Our firm has extensive knowledge of Alabama’s boating and personal injury laws. In our over 50 years of serving the Decatur community, we’ve seen just about everything. And when a case requires specialized knowledge, our attorneys work with subject matter and industry experts.
- Experience – We have decades of experience handling cases in Decatur and throughout Northern Alabama. Our attorneys have dealt with all kinds of personal injury cases and wrongful death claims, leaving us with an informed perspective you can rely on for advice when making decisions about your case.
- Dedication – Our attorneys are dedicated to pursuing the compensation our clients deserve and aren’t afraid to take a case to court. While we always try to negotiate a fair settlement that covers your expenses, we prepare each personal injury lawsuit for trial.
- Compassion – We understand that individuals and families who rely on us for help are going through challenging times. A serious injury can be a life-changing event, and our attorneys are here to make seeking the compensation you need as simple and stress-free as possible.
To learn more about our previous clients’ experiences with our law firm, check out our client testimonials. For example, N.A. writes, “I had a great experience with this office! Very personable and respectful! I appreciate the help in my accident!”
Most Common Types of Boating Accidents
Some of the most common types of boating accidents experienced in Decatur, Alabama, include:
- Boat collisions – When boats collide with each other or with stationary objects, like docks or submerged objects, passengers can suffer significant injuries. They may strike parts of the boat or be thrown into the water.
- Capsizing or sinking – When a boat capsizes or sinks, it can lead to traumatic injuries and drowning incidents. Capsizing or sinking can happen during a collision, sharp turning, or inclement weather, for example.
- Fires and explosions – A fire or explosion aboard a boat can cause burns and lung damage from smoke, among other serious injuries.
- Towing accidents – While riding an inflatable or parasail towed by a boat is fun, these activities can lead to injuries if you fall into or strike an object on the water.
- Struck-by incidents – Sometimes, boats and smaller personal watercraft strike swimmers, leaving them with deep lacerations and other significant injuries.
Primary Causes of Boating Accidents in Decatur, AL
Some of the primary causes of boating accidents in Decatur are:
- Boating under the influence – Operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance is dangerous for everyone on the water. If an intoxicated boat driver caused your injuries, your attorney may be able to use their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as evidence of their negligence.
- Distracted driving – Boat operators should always pay attention to their surroundings. They must keep an eye out for other boats, swimmers, and hazards in the water.
- Inexperienced boat operators – Young or inexperienced boat operators may be more prone to causing accidents simply because they haven’t encountered as many situations.
- Speeding – Boaters who don’t follow posted speed limits on the water and adapt their speed to conditions increase the risk of an accident. Boats can’t stop as quickly or turn as sharply as cars can, meaning operators have less time to react to hazards.
- Lack of proper safety gear – If you were in a boating accident and a lack of proper safety gear, such as railings, fire extinguishers, or life jackets, contributed to your injuries, you may be able to hold the boat’s owner liable.
Boating-Related Injuries and Their Effects
Boating-related injuries can have significant, life-changing effects on victims, such as:
- Amputations – If you’re in the water and a boat propeller strikes your limbs, it could result in an amputation, for example.
- Broken bones – Broken and fractured bones can require months or years of physical therapy.
- Spinal cord injuries – A spinal cord injury can happen due to a significant impact, such as a boat crashing into a dock. These injuries may leave victims with permanent paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries – TBIs result from blunt force trauma to the head and may lead to temporary or permanent physical and cognitive disability.
- Drowning – Not all drownings are fatal. However, even non-fatal drownings can result in cognitive impairment if the brain goes a significant amount of time without oxygen.
Seeking Compensation for Boating Accidents in Decatur
The types of compensation boating accident victims can seek in Decatur include money for:
- Medical expenses – Compensation for the medical bills for your treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy, for example
- Lost wages – Compensation for your lost wages and loss of future earning capacity if your injuries impact your ability to work
- Pain and suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries
- Damaged property – Compensation to repair or replace personal property damaged in the accident, such as your boat or cell phone
To seek compensation for your injuries, you must identify the liable party and prove that their negligence caused the harm you endured. Proving liability involves thoroughly investigating the accident and collecting the necessary evidence. Once the investigation is complete, you must file your claim within the time limit.
Under Alabama’s personal injury statute of limitations, boating accident victims have two years to file their personal injury claim. A Decatur personal injury lawyer from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can assist you with investigating the accident and filing your claim.
How Our Attorneys Help People Hurt in Decatur Boating Accidents
Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.’s attorneys are ready to assist boating accident victims with identifying liable parties, gathering evidence, calculating damages, negotiating with insurance companies, and presenting a solid case at trial.
Contact our law firm today for a free consultation about your case and learn more about how our Decatur personal injury lawyers can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
