Many Bensalem residents look forward to getting out on the water to fish, waterski, or just relax. However, accidents can happen when someone is careless or reckless while boating, causing catastrophic or even fatal injuries.
Call the experienced attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers if you lost a loved one in a boating accident or were injured in a boat crash. A Bensalem boat accident lawyer at our firm can support you throughout the legal process of getting the payments you need to move forward with your life.
As a boat owner himself, Founding Partner Jon Ostroff is no stranger to the proper safety protocols out on the water. He is prepared to take legal action against negligent parties who fail to keep others safe. Our team has helped over 30,000 injured victims across Pennsylvania recover compensation for serious accidents, and we are ready to represent you too.
Pennsylvania Boating Safety Laws
Pennsylvania requires boaters to follow safety laws to protect themselves and others using the waterways. According to 30 Pennsylvania Revised Statutes §5103, everyone who operates a personal watercraft or a boat with a motor of 25 HP and above must complete a boating safety course and have a Boater Certificate.
The state also requires the boat operator to have one lifejacket for each person on board. In the event of an accident, the operator must make a report to the Fish and Boat Commission if:
- The accident caused $2000 of property damage
- Someone suffered an injury that required treatment beyond first aid
- A person disappeared in the accident
- Someone was killed
The vessel operator must immediately make the report by phone and submit a written report within 48 hours. If you were in an accident while boating, get help from one of our Bensalem attorneys immediately. Preserving evidence in a boat accident case is challenging, so it’s important that a legal professional begin working on a case as soon as possible.
Common Boating Accidents in Bensalem
Most accidents happen because someone was reckless or careless on the water. Handling a boat is a skill, but many area boaters don’t get much practice. The weather is good for boating for just a few months a year, and many people only take their boats out on the weekends. This inexperience shows when accidents happen because an operator:
- Creates a large wake, swamping smaller boats
- Doesn’t keep a sharp lookout and hits a swimmer or another vessel
- Misunderstands navigation signals
- Ignores the speed limit
- Hits an obstruction
- Keeps the deck cluttered, creating a tripping hazard
- Collides with a dock or pier while trying to moor
- Tows a skier without a lookout
- Doesn’t have enough life jackets
- Doesn’t maintain the engine, causing a fire hazard
Although lack of skill or attention leads to many mishaps, operating watercraft while drunk or high is one of the most common causes of serious boat accidents. When someone is incapable of managing their boat due to lack of skill or because they are intoxicated, they should not be out on the water. If they cause a boating accident and injuries to others, one of our seasoned local attorneys will hold them accountable for your expenses and losses.
Boating Accident Injuries Can Be Severe
Boat accident injuries are often severe. Being on the water makes it harder to give someone effective first aid or get them to the hospital quickly. Although a person could sustain almost any kind of injury in a boating accident, some of the most common include:
- Cuts and abrasions
- Hypothermia
- Joint sprains or strains
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Burns
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Drowning and near-drowning
If an injury breaks the skin, bacteria in the water could cause a serious infection. Injuries from a boat accident might take a long time to heal and have longer-lasting effects because of the delay in getting medical treatment and the possibility of infection. Your Bensalem attorney will ensure that the boater who caused the accident pays for all your pain, inconvenience, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and other costs.
Rely on a Bensalem Attorney after a Boating Accident
It might be hard to think about legal matters right after a boat accident, but calling a well-known attorney as soon as possible is one of the best things you can do for yourself. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we will get to work finding the irresponsible person who caused your injuries and getting the compensation you deserve.
A Bensalem boat accident lawyer like Jon Ostroff knows the law and how to hold people accountable for their actions. Contact our firm today to get started on your case.
