Boat Accident Lawyer
Were you hurt in a boating accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you should not have to shoulder the burden of recovering from your injuries and rebuilding your life without help. A knowledgeable Phoenix boat accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we focus exclusively on fighting for the rights of people who have been injured in accidents. We know how hard insurance companies work to avoid paying fair compensation in boat accident cases. They often lowball victims or outright deny valid claims. Our firm has the resources and tenacity to pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review. Our Phoenix boat accident lawyer can begin work on your case immediately, and there is no charge unless we recover payment for you.
Common Types of Negligence in Boating Accidents
Some of the most common examples of negligent or reckless behavior that leads to boating accidents in the Phoenix area include:
- Speeding, especially in waters with lots of watercraft or swimmers
- Causing excessive or unsafe wakes
- Running into unsafe wakes or waves
- Failing to follow navigational laws or rules
- Distracted boat operation
- Operating a boat while drowsy or sleepy
- Negligent lookouts
- Drug/alcohol intoxication
- Operator inexperience
- Inadequate maintenance of the craft, which can lead to mechanical failures, fires, or sinking
- Unsafe turns, which can cause a craft to capsize
- Running aground, or running into subsurface obstacles, after failing to consult navigation charts
- Crashing into piers or docks
- Boating in dangerous or unsafe waters
- Boating in unsafe weather or water conditions
- Lack of adequate safety devices aboard a craft
- Exceeding a watercraft’s passenger limit
- Lighting open flames aboard a watercraft
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Boat Accident in Phoenix?
Depending on the circumstances of the boat accident, one or more parties may be legally liable for the injuries and losses that you suffered.
Parties that may be liable for boating accident injuries in Phoenix include:
- The boat owner or operator, if their operation of the craft was unsafe or otherwise negligent
- Charter companies, including companies that rent out craft to private individuals and companies that operate commercial craft that carry passengers
- Boat mechanics and marine engineering companies, in the event of negligently performed boat maintenance
- The boat’s manufacturer, or the manufacturers of parts or equipment used on the boat, if the vessel or its equipment was defectively designed or manufactured
Legally Reviewed By:
Alex Silkman
Alex Silkman is the founder and managing member of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. He focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases, with the goal of getting truly just results for accident victims and their families...
How a Phoenix Boat Accident Attorney Can Help You
Boat accidents can be overwhelming, and it may be unclear who exactly should be held accountable for your injuries and losses. Moreover, trying to pursue financial recovery from insurance companies can be a full-time job, one that’s difficult to perform when you’re also suffering from lingering injuries. To give yourself the best chance at a full recovery, let a Phoenix boat accident attorney from Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer help you.
You can trust our personal injury law firm to:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident to recover all available evidence
- Review the evidence and other documentation to piece together what happened and to identify all possible sources of compensation
- Bring in experienced accident reconstruction specialists and other professionals to help us prove liability and build a case for the past, ongoing, and future losses for which you deserve compensation
- Handle communications with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys on your behalf so that you can focus on your treatment and recovery
- Vigorously negotiate for a settlement that provides you with fair and full compensation
- Take your case to court if a reasonable settlement cannot be reached and litigation is the best option for getting you the maximum financial recovery you deserve
Time Limit for Filing a Boat Accident Lawsuit in Arizona
If you were injured in a boat accident in Arizona, the statute of limitations gives you only two years to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties. If you wait too long to take legal action, you risk losing the right to compensation from those who caused your injuries. For that reason, you should speak to a Phoenix boat accident lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you act, the more time your attorney will have to thoroughly investigate your boat accident claim and build a case for maximum compensation.
After a boating accident, you may be entitled to pursue financial recovery from the party or parties at fault. Full compensation in your boat accident claim could include:
- Medical expenses, such as hospital bills, prescriptions, physical therapy, or purchases of medical or mobility equipment
- Costs of long-term care required for chronic conditions or permanent disability
- Loss of wages or income for time missed from work while treating and recovering from boat accident injuries
- Loss of future earning ability due to permanent disability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma or distress
- Loss of quality of life due to scarring/disfigurement or disabilities interfering with enjoyment of daily life
In addition to compensation for your injuries, you might be entitled to recover repair costs for your boat if your watercraft was damaged in a collision with a negligent operator’s craft.
Finally, in cases of boating accidents caused by particularly egregious behavior, punitive damages may be awarded at trial. Punitive damages are not intended to compensate you for any loss that you have suffered, but rather to punish the responsible party for conduct that society deems wholly unacceptable and to dissuade others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
Some of the most common injuries suffered by victims of boating accidents in Phoenix include:
- Severe lacerations and excessive bleeding
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Soft-tissue injuries, including sprains and strains
- Nerve injuries, including whiplash
- Spinal injuries, including herniated discs, spinal cord damage, and paralysis
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns
- Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
- Head, facial, and brain injuries
- Drowning-related injuries
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic amputations
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we handle Phoenix boating accident cases involving all kinds of watercraft, including:
- Sailboats
- Motorboats
- Yachts
- Pontoon boats
- Party boats
- Charter boats
- Catamarans and trimarans
- Houseboats
- Game/fishing boats
- Water taxis and ferries
- Runabouts
- Dinghies
- Banana boats
- Jet skis and other personal watercraft
