Collisions between boats or other personal watercraft can be just as dangerous as automobile accidents on land and sometimes even more dangerous if they occur at high speeds or in particularly deep water. Unfortunately, filing suit over this type of accident can also be uniquely complicated.
Whether you need to recover for life-altering injuries or just need some help covering short-term bills and expenses, help from an experienced personal injury attorney could make a tremendous difference in how your case plays out and whether it ultimately has a favorable resolution for you. From collecting evidence of fault for your accident to assigning fair values to all your compensable losses, assistance from a Plainfield boat accident lawyer could be invaluable throughout every stage of the recovery process.
While Illinois does not regulate the right to operate a boat quite as strictly as the right to drive a motor vehicle, any person born in 1998 or after must pass a boating safety course and receive a certificate from the state Department of Natural Resources before they can lawfully operate any vessel with a motor capable of generating more than 10 horsepower. However, there are no licensing requirements for anyone born prior to 1998, which unfortunately means there are plenty of novice boaters out in the navigable waters of this state on any given day.
Any reckless or careless act by a boater that directly leads to a passenger on their vessel, anyone on another vessel, or a person in the water around their boat sustaining an injury could be the basis for civil litigation, including:
In the event that a mechanical malfunction is the primary cause of a boating injury, a Plainfield boat accident attorney could potentially help pursue litigation against the boat’s manufacturer, a negligent mechanic, or both.
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand based on a boat accident should account for both economic and non-economic repercussions of the accident, as well as both past and future losses relative to when legal proceedings first begin. On the economic side, this means seeking compensation not just for short-term medical bills and vessel repair costs but also for expected future medical expenses, lost work income, and sometimes lost working capacity.
Non-economic damages typically center around physical pain and suffering, but they can also include various forms of emotional and psychological distress, including lost consortium and lost overall enjoyment of life. A boat injury attorney in Plainfield could go into further detail about exactly what losses a particular person might be able to recover for during a confidential consultation.
Boating accidents often lead to extremely serious injuries that may have long-lasting and life-changing effects. If someone else’s negligence was the main reason you got hurt in an incident of this nature, you likely have a right to demand civil restitution from them for every negative effect your injuries have had and will have on you.
Guidance from a tenacious Plainfield boat accident lawyer could be key to making the most of your unique claim. Call the team at Costa Ivone, LLC today to learn more.