Carlsbad Boat Accident Lawyer
One advantage of living on the coast is easy access to the water for boating and other recreation. Carlsbad residents enjoy boating year-round, and we welcome visitors from around the state who arrive on our shores by boat. Boating accidents are very dangerous, however. There is a serious risk that a loved one will go overboard and drown. Accidents far from shore raise additional complications, such as the inability to get emergency medical help in a timely manner.
Contact Pursley Law Firm if you or someone you love was injured in a boating accident. You might have a legal right to compensation. Below, our Carlsbad boat accident lawyer looks at the most common accidents and injuries.
How Are People Hurt in Boating Accidents?
Boat operators should use reasonable care when piloting a vessel. That means avoiding distractions and maintaining a proper lookout. An operator might also need to take prudent defensive actions, such as avoiding other watercraft and large waves. Unfortunately, many operators are careless or outright dangerous, and people can suffer serious injuries in various types of accidents:
- Colliding with another vessel
- Colliding with smaller watercraft like sail boats, paddle boats, and jet skis
- Striking stationary objects, like a dock
- Running aground
- Striking a wake wave
- Fires or explosions
- Mechanical defect leading to capsizing or fire
Other factors which contribute to accidents include:
- Lack of life rafts, life rafts, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment
- Operator inexperience or insufficient experience
- Operator fatigue
- Operator drug use or intoxication
- Poor weather, such as lack of visibility or strong winds
Many occupants get tossed overboard and can drown if they don’t know how to swim or are not rescued in time. People should wear life vests precisely for unforeseen accidents, but many do not. Anyone who nearly drowns could suffer a lack of oxygen, which can result in permanent brain injuries and lifelong disabilities.
Other injuries include fractures, concussions, burns, lacerations, and back injuries. Because some vessels are far from shore, it might be hours before emergency personnel can reach you. Consequently, even relatively minor injuries could pose an immediate danger. Someone with a mild concussion might be so confused that they drown if they were tossed into the water and no one helps rescue them.
Can You Receive Compensation?
Pursley Law Firm will review the facts of any case to determine whether you can sue. Many of our clients were either struck by a dangerous boat operator or injured when their own boat was involved in a crash. We typically bring these claims against the boat operator for negligence. In some cases, you might also sue the entity or person who owns the boat, if there are defects, mechanical issues, or a lack of safety equipment.
Call Pursley Law to speak with our Carlsbad boat accident lawyer. We have fought to receive meaningful compensation for economic and non-economic damages suffered in an accident. If a loved one died in an accident, we can also discuss whether you can bring a wrongful death claim.
