Boating accidents can include slips and falls, passengers falling overboard, fires, and other incidents. Anytime a boat occupant suffers an injury, the boat owner or operator may face liability for the resulting harm. Like car accident cases, boat insurance often plays a role in the compensation process.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we help our clients investigate and pursue all avenues of compensation through the appropriate legal pathways. We’ve won hundreds of millions in damages for injury victims. Our maritime injury lawyers in Houston work tirelessly to get the damages you need to get back on your feet.
Schedule a free consultation with us today to get started on your case with an experienced Houston boating accident lawyer from our firm.
Why Should I Hire an Experienced Houston Boating Accident Lawyer?
After a boating accident, a general personal injury attorney who specializes in land-based accidents may not understand the nuances of maritime, federal, state, and local laws that govern boat accidents. An attorney with a history of boating accident representation can provide comprehensive legal and insurance support as you recover.
Our Houston boating accident lawyers represent people involved in boating accidents of all shapes and sizes. If you were injured on a cruise ship, a recreational boat, a fishing vessel, a personal watercraft, or another type of boat, you deserve fair compensation.
Boating cases can involve multiple insurance policies, unclear jurisdictional rules, and other challenges that require extensive legal knowledge. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer from our team will know how to handle insurance matters and ensure important rules are accounted for.
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How a Houston Boat Accident Lawyer Helps After a Recreational Boating Accident
Recreational boating accidents can stem from operator inattention, operator inexperience, excessive speed, poor weather conditions, mechanical failure, defective equipment, missing safety equipment, or violations of boating safety laws. Our Houston boating accident lawyer can investigate how the incident happened and guide you through the legal process.
When you hire our firm, we’ll investigate the accident, determine what body of law applies, identify every liable party, and handle all negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf.
Depending on the details of your case, our team will pursue compensation for damages such as:
- Current and future medical bills and medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and long-term care costs
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Property damage to your vessel or belongings
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in the accident
No matter how the accident happened or how severe your injuries, we’ll fight to hold the responsible party liable for the pain, suffering, and financial losses you’ve been burdened with.
Houston Boating Accident Lawyer Near Me (713) 500-5000
What Laws Apply to Inland Boating Accidents in Texas?
If you were cruising around the many rivers, lakes, and waterways around Houston when the incident occurred, state and federal laws may apply to the accident claim.
For example, a boat operator must file a report with the applicable state and federal agencies if the incident resulted in a death, an injury requiring more than first aid treatment, or property damage exceeding $2,000 in value.
A formal accident report may also play an important role in proving the accident and injury during any resulting personal injury claim. For incidents that fall under state and/or federal jurisdiction, the claims process works differently than a regular personal injury claim.
Texas Fault Laws
Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule to determine negligence and liability in an accident. Under Texas proportionate responsibility laws, you can recover compensation as long as your own share of liability for the boating accident does not exceed 50%.
Our boating accident attorney in Houston will investigate the claim and determine whether the defendant complied with the Texas Water Safety Act, a law governing inland boating safety. We understand the rules and precedents governing liability in these cases as well as how to handle the complexities of boating insurance claims.
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Laws Governing Accidents at Sea
Boating accidents that occur at sea may fall under the jurisdiction of maritime law. In these cases, maritime rules override state and local laws. Plaintiffs must still prove carelessness in sea-related boating accidents. However, liability works differently in these cases. Instead of a modified comparative negligence rule with a bar threshold, maritime law applies a pure comparative fault system.
Under the doctrine of joint and several liability, an innocent passenger can pursue full compensation from any or all of the negligent parties, regardless of their individual percentages of blame. For example, if a passenger was hurt in a boating crash where both drivers were careless, the passenger can ask for payment from any or all of the possible defendants.
At sea, a vessel owner may also limit his or her liability under the Limitation Act. If the owner was not aware of the circumstances giving rise to the incident, they may use the act to establish liability limits not to exceed the vessel’s value.
If maritime or admiralty laws apply in a boating accident, injured people need a lawyer who knows this complex area well. Our boating accident lawyer in Houston represents passengers, crew members, and boat owners in injury claims that fall under maritime law.
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What to Do After a Boating Accident
The steps you take after a boating accident can make a major difference in your health and your ability to recover compensation.
If you’re able to, our Houston boating accident attorneys strongly recommend taking the following steps:
- Get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor
- Report the accident to the U.S. Coast Guard or local law enforcement as required by law
- Get the boat operator’s name, contact information, vessel registration, and insurance details
- Take photos and video of the vessels, the scene, and any visible injuries you’ve sustained
- Collect names and contact information from any passengers or witnesses
- Save all medical records, receipts, and repair estimates related to the accident
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with a lawyer
- Contact an experienced Houston boating accident lawyer as soon as possible
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Houston Boating Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was hurt in a boating accident on Texas waters, don’t wait to get the legal help you deserve. Evidence disappears quickly, and insurance companies start building their defense the moment the accident happens.
Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no cost to speak with our team, and you’ll pay nothing unless our Houston boating accident lawyer wins compensation for your case.
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