Just like how you need a driver’s license to operate an automobile on public roads, you need a Boating Safety Certificate or a Boat License to operate a vessel in New Jersey navigable waterways. Unfortunately, much like a lot of drivers in the Garden State, a lot of boaters are reckless and careless at the helm in ways that put themselves, their passengers, and other people around them at risk of serious injury.
If you’ve been hurt in a boating accident caused by another’s negligence, you may have grounds to hire a personal injury attorney and demand money from that negligent person to pay for the financial, physical, and personal consequences of your accident. If you want to do that as effectively and efficiently as possible, you need help from a Mt Laurel boat accident lawyer who’s gotten good results from numerous cases like yours in the past.
Who Could Be Legally Liable for a Boat Accident?
In a lot of ways, negligence on the water looks the same as negligence behind the wheel of a car, truck, or SUV. In both places, everyone has a broad duty of care to act carefully and lawfully while operating their vehicle. Someone who violates that duty—for example, by going too fast in a no-wake zone, boating while drunk, or boating without a license—may be considered civilly liable for the consequences of any accident they cause through their misconduct.
However, it’s not unheard of for other people to hold civil liability for boat collisions besides who was operating the vessel. For example, if a rental company rented a boat to someone who was visibly drunk, it might hold partial liability for any injury that person later caused because of their intoxication. Likewise, if a boat accident happens because of a mechanical problem in one of the vessels involved, a Mt Laurel attorney might be able to help sue a negligent mechanic or even the company that made and sold the boat in the first place.
Getting Paid for Short-Term and Long-Term Losses
Regardless of who specifically holds the blame for a specific accident, anyone found legally at fault for a boat-related injury can be made to pay for every negative effect that injury will ever have on the injured person. This can include but isn’t strictly limited to damages like:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Medical bills
- Lost work wages and working ability
- Personal property damage, including boat repair or replacement costs
If an accident on the water has fatal consequences for someone involved, a boat injury lawyer in Mt Laurel can help surviving family members seek recovery through a wrongful death claim.
Consider Working with a Mt Laurel Boat Accident Attorney
Collisions between watercraft can be just as dangerous as—and sometimes even more dangerous than—auto accidents on land. Fortunately, you can sue over a boat accident caused by someone else’s misconduct with help from skilled legal professionals.
A Mt Laurel boat accident lawyer will be the steadfast ally you need to get every cent of compensation you deserve. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to discuss your recovery options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
