Many people are out on the lakes and rivers enjoying boating, fishing and other water sports. It is important to think about safety while on the water, for both you and your guests.For instance, what is your liability if your boat is in an accident? Are you liable for the injuries of those riding in your boat?
If you’re injured on a motorboat or sailboat, you must be able to prove that your injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence in order to recover damages. To better explain how a negligence claim works, it helps to look at the main types of boating accidents.
Pleasure boating accident types:
-your boat hits another boat
-your boat hits another boat’s wake
-your boat hits a wave
-your boat hits a rock
In a collision with two boats, both drivers are usually partly at fault, which means you could have a case against both drivers.
When your boat hits a big wave, there are several factors that may be considered in determining whether or not the driver is at fault, such as: speed, visibility, the size of the wake, and the type of boat.
A wave accident is similar to a wake accident, and some of the same criteria may be used in determining fault.
A collision with a submerged object, such as a rock, may be the driver’s fault only if they are determined to have been negligent. For example, speeding in foggy weather without GPS is considered negligent.
Just like a car accident, if you’re injured in a boating accident where the driver is deemed negligent, you are entitled to damages for your injuries.
If you have questions about liability in any situation, please consult our Online Legal Directory to find an attorney in your area.