Accidents involving boats are terrifying and familiar in the open ocean. So many boating and water-related accidents occur that laws have been established to protect people and property on the water.
If you’re injured in a boating accident, you’ll need more than just a personal injury lawyer; you’ll need the boat accident attorney on your side. Maritime law is a complicated field that necessitates the assistance of an expert. Your lawyer should also be familiar with the laws governing waterways in your state.
When it comes to boating accidents, it’s time to go over all the relevant information about a boat accident attorney.
What is the law of the sea?
Accidents and disputes occur on or near a navigable stretch of the waterfall under the purview of maritime law. Maritime law is federal law, which means that it applies to every state in the United States and that most maritime accident disputes are settled in federal court.
The oceans are governed by a variety of laws and maritime ones. When handling your boat out on the open ocean, you must follow the states’ rules that border the major oceans.
Three of the most popular boats involvements in maritime law
If you’ve been injured in a boating accident, you’ll need a maritime or admiralty lawyer who has dealt with similar cases before.
Among the most common causes of boating mishaps are:
- Two vessels collide in mid-air
- A vessel-to-fixed-object collision
- While working on a vessel in navigable waters, an employee may be injured or killed.
- Cargo damage in a commercial shipping incident
The following are examples of criminal activity:
Since some states don’t require a boat operator’s license or even an age restriction to operate a boat, different states have different rules.
Navigators aren’t expected to learn boat safety, leading to complicated boat injury battles—an easy way to avoid collisions between two boats.
The most common causes of boat accident
The majority of the boating mishaps we’ve discussed thus far are preventable if the boater pays attention to a few basic safety precautions.
The following are the most common causes of the these annoying sometimes and terrible boat accidents:
Incompetence or carelessness while in charge of a vessel
Boating while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and alcohol
- Operating a vessel at an unsafe speed.
- A breakdown of the boat’s mechanical systems
In the event of a boating accident, here’s what you should do:
What to do if you’ve been associated with a boat accident and have a compensation case?
Included in these steps are the following:
- Getting checked out by a doctor is the first step. Although if you think you’re okay, go to the doctor even if you assume you are. Find a copy of your health records (and bills) related to the accident and any injuries you sustained.
- Make sure your employer or the other boat owner has the insurance information you need.
- Submit a formal report to your contractor or the vessel’s owner for their consideration. The Marine Corps and your state’s waterway department should also be notified.
- Collect evidence to support your claim.
Proof that a boat accident has occurred
Whether the damage is to a boat or the injured person, you and your legal team will need evidence to prove your case in a boat accident.
You should have the following evidence to back up your claim:
- Images of the damage that was done
Witness statements and police records from the accident and negligence are included in this category.
- The medical records of a deceased or injured person
