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Far too many people get hurt or killed in senseless boating accidents every single summer. Far too often, an investigation or reports from survivors detail how the accident could have been prevented with better boating knowledge or focus on making safety a top priority for everyone on board. If you’re confused about what to do following a serious boating accident, you must find the support of an attorney as soon as possible.
A recreational boating accident might be extremely difficult for victims to understand, particularly if they are not really clear about what a recreational boat is.
A recreational boat often means any of the following types of watercrafts: tenders, yachts, center console runabouts, cabin cruisers, pontoons, sail boats, personal watercrafts, airboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. Victims of a recreational boating accident or their family members might be able to sue the operator of the boat for failure to provide reasonable safety or for negligence. Multiple parties may be responsible in a boating accident, including the manufacturing company, the boat owner, other passengers who acted recklessly or the rental company. One of the first things you will need to understand after meeting with a lawyer is which law applies to your case; state or federal.
These issues are extremely complicated and are based on where the incident occurred. If your attorney determines that your case is affected by general maritime law, it is important to retain a lawyer who is experienced in this particular field as this can be slightly different from a typical personal injury claim.
Regardless of how the recreational boating accident occurred, it is a mistake to forego talking to a lawyer or to fail to get medical attention from the hospital sooner rather than later. You might not realize the severity of your injuries until days or weeks after the accident has happened, but failing to get medical attention can make it easier for other side to argue that you were never injured to begin with.