Huntsville Boating Accident Attorney

Many people don’t take the same precautions on a boat as they do in a car, such as avoiding alcohol and traveling at safe speeds. And the presence of water makes it highly likely that someone involved in a boating accident may drown.

If you’re involved in an accident on the water in Alabama, talk to the attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., today. Our Huntsville boating accident lawyers have been helping personal injury victims in Alabama for nearly 50 years. We’ve recovered more than $125 million in compensation for our clients.

Contact our Huntsville office to learn more about our services and get a free initial consultation.

How Boating Accidents Happen

Boating accidents rarely happen out of the blue. In most cases, some type of negligence is involved. It may be that the boater, driving a jet ski, boat, or other watercraft, was negligent by drinking or speeding or failed to do proper maintenance checks before going out on the water.

When someone suffers injuries in a boating accident caused by negligence, our boat crash attorneys can help victims pursue fair compensation for their injuries.

How Can a Huntsville Boating Accident Attorney Help Me

Recovering fair compensation for your injuries after an accident can be a challenge, but here are some ways a boating accident attorney in Huntsville can help:

Identifying who was negligent and can be held liable for your injuries
Documenting your injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and other losses from the accident
Gathering evidence to establish negligence
Opening negotiations for a settlement with the liable party’s insurance company
Bringing your case to court if the insurer will not make a fair settlement offer

Obtaining Compensation After a Boating Accident in Huntsville

To obtain compensation after a boating accident, you’ll generally need to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Many different types of negligence could contribute to a boating accident. Our boat collision lawyers are ready to help you find the evidence needed to support your negligence claim.

Once you’ve gathered the necessary evidence to build a solid case, you can seek compensation for the different types of harm from the accident. Among other things, you can seek compensation for:

Lost wages and reduced capacity to work because of your injuries
Medical bills and the cost of future treatment
Physical pain and suffering from your injuries
Any psychological or emotional fallout from your injuries
Damaged personal property

Our boat wreck lawyers have the experience, resources, and skills to help you build a strong case for compensation so you can pursue the resources you need.

Boating Accident Statistics

According to the United States Coast Guard, there were 5,265 boating accidents across the country in one recent year, resulting in 3,191 injuries and 767 deaths.

In Alabama, there were 96 accidents that year, resulting in 19 deaths, 56 injuries, and almost $1.5 million in property damage.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Boat Accident Injuries?

Here are a few of the most common causes of boating accidents:

Slippery boat deck – Water or other spilled liquids on a boat’s deck can lead to slip-and-fall accidents or even cause passengers to tumble overboard into the water.

Improper boat maintenance – Owners must properly maintain boats to keep them in safe working order. If boat owners neglect maintenance, it could cause the operator to lose control, the vessel to become stranded or sink, or other kinds of accidents.

Proper safety gear is not on the vessel – Accidents can happen on the water at any time, and boat operators need to be prepared for emergencies. If a boat is not equipped with life preservers, an emergency radio, flares, and other safety gear, passengers may not be able to respond effectively to a life-threatening situation.

Distracted driving – Boat operators need to pay careful attention whenever they’re at the controls, as they need to look out for other boats, underwater objects, and other hazards. If they’re not careful, an accident can easily occur.

Reckless driving – Boats handle much differently than other vehicles, like cars, making it easy for an operator to lose control if they’re not careful. Speeding, getting too close to another boat, making sharp turns, and other examples of recklessness can all lead to an accident.

Vessel collides with another boat or underwater object – Boat operators who are impaired, distracted, or driving recklessly may pass too close to another vessel or a submerged object, leading to a collision.

The boat operator is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol could cause boat operators to take greater risks, misjudge their speed and the distance between objects, and lose control of the boat. All of these risk factors make an accident more likely.

Who Is Liable for a Boating Accident?

The liable parties in a boating accident depend on the circumstances of the accident. Some potentially responsible parties include:

The boat operator (driving while impaired, distracted driving, reckless driving, etc.)
The boat owner (failing to maintain a safe vessel, failing to provide safety equipment, etc.)
The boat’s manufacturer (mechanical defects)
Dockworkers (improper maintenance)

What to Do After a Boating Accident in Huntsville

Following are some steps you should take to protect your safety and your rights following a boat accident:

Contact emergency services. Use your phone, an emergency radio, or a flare to signal for help, as you or someone else may need urgent medical attention.

Report the accident. Make sure to let the insurance company know about the accident promptly.

Document the accident. Take photos of the accident and write down as many details as you can remember as soon as possible after the crash. Those details could be crucial to building your case for compensation.

Get medical attention. See a doctor as soon as possible to make sure all of your injuries are documented, and you can start treatment right away.

Consult a boating accident attorney. Your lawyer can start working to seek compensation for your injuries while you rest and recuperate.

Contact the Boating Accident Attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.

To pursue fair compensation for your injuries after a boating accident in Alabama, you need the experienced and dedicated team at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. Contact our office in Huntsville today for a free initial consultation.