Boating is often a relaxing activity for many Illinois families but an accident on the water can leave someone injured or even killed. A near-drowning or making contact with active propellers can have long-lasting consequences on a person and their family. If you suffered an injury in a boating accident, a dedicated personal injury attorney could help you fight for financial compensation from the negligent party. An Elgin boat accident lawyer understands that this tragedy should not continue to hurt you when it was not your fault in the first place.
Common Boating Accidents and Injuries
Boating accidents can occur in many different ways. Almost any type of watercraft accident is at risk of producing injury, including speed boats, jet skis, kayaks, and more. When another boater is negligent in their operation of the vehicle and causes harm, a lawsuit could hold them accountable financially. Injuries that commonly occur as a result of boating accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Lacerations and other skin damage
- Spinal cord injury, brain injury, and paralysis
- Drowning
If a person has suffered injury at the hands of a negligent boat operator, a civil lawsuit might be the best way to hold them accountable. A local boat accident attorney could help seek the financial compensation needed to rectify the losses that the plaintiff has endured.
Determining Negligence in Boat Accidents
In order to determine whether the operator of the boat was negligent, an in-depth analysis of the facts of the case must occur. Negligence occurs when a boat operator fails to abide by their duty of care to operate the vessel safely. When a boater violates this duty of care and causes injury, that boater is liable for the costs that those injuries incur.
Other boating accidents could be the result of inexperience or the lack of qualifications to operate one. This is especially useful when suing the employer of the boat operator. If the employer hired someone who is unqualified to operate the watercraft, and that inexperience or lack of qualifications led to an accident, liability can attach to both the operator and the employer.
Defective Watercraft
Injuries can also occur as a result of defective boats or one of the parts within. When a company designs or manufactures a product that is defective, and that defective product causes injury, the manufacture can be held responsible. Defects can occur due to the poor manufacture of the boat or its parts, or the entire design of the watercraft could be considered defective. An Elgin boat crash attorney could provide guidance on whether defective products played a role.
Boat defects can cause a number of dangerous issues. The motor could cause a fire, explode, or otherwise leave boaters stranded. Defects in the hull can cause the boat to sink and may lead to drownings. Improper electrical wiring might cause dangerous or even deadly shocks. When a plaintiff is injured by a defective boat, the manufacturer should be responsible for the fallout.
Discuss Compensation with an Elgin Boat Accident Attorney
After suffering injuries in a boating accident, you may be facing high medical bills, extended time off of work, and a great deal of pain. When another person’s negligence is the cause of these injuries, they should have to pay for these costs instead of you. An Elgin boat accident lawyer could help you hold them responsible. Contact us today for a consultation of your case.