Although the word "boating accident" may appear self-explanatory, it refers to a vast group of occurrences involving a variety of boats. What appears to be consistent throughout all boating accidents, regardless of the vessel, is that they frequently end in injuries. When boating accidents occur, an injured victim will suffer serious injuries or possibly wrongful death.
Our legal team at Garden State Justice Group offers victims of boating accidents the knowledge and resources they need to pursue the compensation you deserve. To learn more, contact our experienced boating accident lawyers in New Jersey today.
Any accident that involves a watercraft or boat would be considered a boating accident including accidents involving a person falling overboard, colliding with another vessel, a boat explosion, operator error, and even manufacturer defects that cause an accident. New Jersey itself is known for boating accidents due to its close proximity to tons of lakes such as Lake Hopatcong, Culver’s Lake, Clarks Pond and many more.
Unfortunately, not many people understand the rules or safety measures required when operating a water vessel. Because of this, boating accidents are becoming more and more prevalent in highly populated areas of New Jersey. Some of the most common types of boating accidents our law firm has handled include:
The most important step to take following a boating accident is the same thing you should do after any other type of accident: make sure everyone involved is safe. Assess any injuries and evaluate whether or not emergency personnel should be contacted. Usually, catastrophic injuries are more common in boating accidents so its most likely the best choice to contact first responders.
After making sure everyone involved is safe, it's time to start assessing the boat's damages to determine whether it's still capable of operating on the water. It's always recommended to call for assistance and to get the boat towed to a safe location first.
Lastly, once the parties involved are safe, and the vessel is either docked or in a safe area, you can then begin to collect evidence you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company. Take detailed images from several angles to show the extent of the damage, not only to your own boat but also to any other vessels involved.
It's also a good idea to obtain the contact information for any other people who were involved in the accident. It's possible that the contact information may come in handy on the road if significant losses were sustained, whether on your side or on theirs.
If you’ve suffered injuries caused by a boating accident, it's important to get the medical attention you need first. After you’ve received treatment for your injuries, then you should contact an experienced boating accident lawyer to analyze the details of your case. To schedule your free consultation, give our local law office a call, we are ready to assist you.
