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Ventura Boat Accident Lawyers
Compensation for Boating Injuries in Ventura
While boating accidents may not occur as often as motor vehicle accidents on land, they often have more devastating results. There are strict rules and laws that govern boating, but, unfortunately, many boat operators are more concerned with the fun of boating rather than the safety of others.
If you have been injured in a boating accident due to someone else’s negligent or reckless operation of another vessel, the Ventura personal injury attorneys at NordstrandBlack PC can examine the details of your accident, determine fault, and pursue fair compensation from the responsible party on your behalf. To speak to one of our lawyers about your particular situation, call us for a free consultation at (866) 298-2041.
Severity of Boating Accidents
Accidents over water can be more dangerous than accidents on land. Boats, unlike cars, are not equipped with brakes, and so there is little to nothing that can be done to avoid a crash if two boats or a boat and another water craft are on a collision course. If a boat operator is distracted, inattentive, drunk, unaware of boating laws, or otherwise negligent, they can easily put themselves, their passengers, and other people on or in the water in danger of serious injury or even death. Common incidents caused by speeding and other negligent actions by boaters include:
- Collisions with another boat;
- Collisions with personal water craft (PWC), such as Jet Ski’s;
- Running aground;
- Collisions with objects, such as buoys;
- Collisions with rocks or reefs; or
- Collisions with swimmers.
If a boat accident, such as those above, is caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim for compensation. Generally, in California, a person has two years from the date of injury to file a claim. If an injury is not discovered until later, then a person has one year from the date of discovery to file a claim. This is known as the statute of limitations.
Common Injuries Claimed after a Boating Accident
The injuries suffered by passengers, swimmers, and other boaters as the result of such accidents can include broken bones, lacerations or gashes, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and even brain damage as the result of near-drowning incidents. Drowning accidents are unfortunately also common after Ventura boating accidents.
Recovery after a Ventura Boat Accident
For many injured boating accident victims, recovery is not a quick process. It is rare that a boating accident injury simply requires cleaning a minor cut. Boat accident injuries often require extensive medical treatments, even multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, and potential long-term care. If a victim suffers brain damage as the result of a near-drowning experience, they may need to relearn how to do everyday tasks. Recovery can be a long and expensive process, which insurance companies likely will not pay for.
Fighting Insurance Company Tactics
Many insurance companies are in the business of making money, not helping people. They will manipulate injured parties into making official statements regarding their accidents and then use that information to deny compensation or build a case to lessen the actual damages of the incident. Insurance companies may also give injured parties the run-around, making no effort to actually communicate effectively.
Such tactics can not only keep an injured person or the family of a fatal victim from getting the compensation they deserve, but it can also make physical and/or emotional recovery that much more difficult. With an experienced attorney at your side, however, you would not fall victim to deceptive insurance companies.
Aggressive Representation to Protect Your Rights
At NordstrandBlack PC, our Ventura boat accident attorneys are familiar with the common tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying out legitimate claims and are dedicated to making sure that such obstacles do not stand in the way of you or your family getting the money you deserve. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a boating accident, call us at (866) 298-2041 for a consultation.