Winning Your Boat Accident Injury Claim

Wheeling, West Virginia Boat Accident Attorneys

No one wants to be the victim of a boat accident. Being involved in a boating accident is traumatic and can be expensive, too. Sailors have to fork over thousands in medical bills. They also spend time away from work while they’re recovering.

Unfortunately, some boaters drink and drive or otherwise put themselves and others at risk while out on the water. If you’ve been injured on a pleasure craft or fishing vessel, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.

Wheeling, West Virginia Boat Accident Attorneys understand how much agony anyone can endure after an accident. You’re not alone. Our boat accident lawyers at Ghaphery Law Office are here to help you make sense of an unfortunate situation by answering all of your questions, helping you seek necessary medical attention, and holding negligent operators accountable for their actions. 

We’ll fight insurance companies to make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries, including lost wages and future costs associated with the accident. Call our personal injury law firm now to consult a competent boat accident lawyer. 

Boat Accidents: Who Can be Held Liable?

Victims or their relatives may usually sue the boat’s operator for carelessness or failing to provide sufficient security. Most states enable family members to sue each other for carelessness. Most boat owners have liability coverage via boat insurance or a homeowner’s policy.

The boat owner, the builder, the rental company, or other passengers who behaved negligently or recklessly, such as pushing someone into the water without a life jacket, knowing they cannot swim, may be held liable. On the other hand, authorities may be held accountable for improperly placing warning buoys indicating shallow water or other risks.

Recreational Boating Accident Causes

We may be unsure of what “recreational boat” implies. A recreational boat may be any of the following:

• Yachts
• Sailboats
• Personal watercraft (jet skis and wave runners)
• Pontoons
• Kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes
• Centre console runabouts
• Cabin cruisers
• Tenders
• Inflatable and semi-rigid inflatable boats
• Go-Fast boats
• Airboats

Common Boating Accident Causes

The majority of recreational boating accidents are caused by carelessness. Innocent individuals may be badly injured or killed when boaters are negligent, irresponsible, or misbehaved.

A variety of factors cause recreational boating accidents such as:

• Inattentiveness of operator
• Violation of navigational rules
• Age and experience of operators
• Mechanical error
• Extreme speed
• Dangerous waters
• Severe weather conditions
• Boating under Influence (BUI)
• Defects in watercraft

What Are The Most Common Boating Injuries?

Traumatic Brain Injury

On the list of significant causes of mortality from watercraft accidents is brain injury.. Following a collision, being flung into a boat wall or another vessel causes traumatic brain damage. Long-term immersion in water or exposure to carbon monoxide also frequently causes such damage.

Lacerations

Propellers help boats move forward. Anybody who comes into touch with propellers may suffer severe lacerations due to their sensitive nature and fast rotation speed.

Burns

Crew members may be burned by electrical problems or engine room explosions and flames. They may cause significant burns to people if they move beyond the engine room or on smaller vessels.

Whiplash

When the head and body move rapidly, the neck becomes strained, causing whiplash. Boats that make sudden stops or turns may cause whiplash. However, it may be dangerous or deadly in certain circumstances.

Injuries to the Spinal Cord

Spinal compressions (pressure on the spinal cord) occur when two boats crash. The vessel’s impact waves may cause spinal compressions.

Drowning

The impact of a collision may cause a boat to capsize or passengers to be pushed overboard. The occurrence may produce confusion, tiredness, or other ailments that cause drowning.

Ligament and bone injuries

Passengers may strike walls or rails in a collision with another vessel, breaking bones and ligaments.

Amputated limbs

A boat’s propellers are incredibly sharp and move quickly. Falls near the blades or when the boat driver is unaware of persons in the water may cause severe injury.

The injuries sustained in a watercraft accident may be severe or deadly. Victims have legal recourse when another’s carelessness causes their injuries. The first step is to hire a boating accident attorney. 

In What Ways May I Be Compensated?

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a boating accident, and you have a valid claim, boat accident attorneys may pursue numerous kinds of damages to compensate you:

The victim is compensated for the expense of the injury or harm. Actual and general damages are the two forms of compensatory damages.

Actual compensatory damages

Amounts paid for property damage, lost income, lost earnings, and medical expenditures such as hospital bills, rehab treatment, and prescription medication prices are all examples of actual compensatory damages.

General compensatory damages

Loss of consortium, future loss of earning ability, and future medical treatment are all examples of general compensatory damages.

Punitive Damages

Although only given in some instances, punitive damages penalize the defendant. Punitive damages can convey a message to society and act as a deterrence for such careless conduct. Although proving punitive damages is difficult, they may be large compared to compensatory damages.

Why You Need a Wheeling Boat Accident Lawyer

When you are injured in a boat mishap, it can be challenging to know what to do next when you are overwhelmed with medical expenses and mounting bills. Where do you turn? Who will pay for your injuries? How will you move forward with your life?

Why Choose Us?

Our Wheeling Boat Accident Attorney at the Graphery Law Office is dedicated to protecting the rights of injured victims. We know that boating accident injuries can leave a victim with life-long physical and emotional pain. Our lawyers work hard to investigate your case and hold those who are responsible for causing your accident accountable for their actions.

We have years of combined legal experience and have helped over a thousand clients and their families get the compensation they need when they’ve been hurt in these types of situations. If you’re looking for an aggressive and professional law firm to help with your boat accident claim, look for no other than the Wheeling Accident Attorney at Ghaphery Law Office, PLLC.

Typical Boating Accident Cases We Handle

Our company covers all forms of boating injuries, including:

• Accidental drowning or drowning due to a capsized boat 
• Other personal watercraft injuries involving jet skis
• A barge or commercial vessel collisions
• Injuries on cruise ships
• Boat mishaps
• Defective boat-related incidents
• Injured offshore workers

In fact, our focus is on helping clients and victims throughout West Virginia. We use our knowledge, skill, and experience to help others get the justice they deserve.

Whether you have been involved or injured in a boating accident, contact our law firm today for a free consultation by calling us or filling out our online contact form.