Whether fishing down at the shore, or out on the lake enjoying the scenery, spending time on the water is a popular activity for Pennsylvanians. Unfortunately, boating and other water-related accidents are a serious risk and frequently cause severe injury or death.
When a crash on the water is caused by another party’s careless or reckless behavior, they owe the injured victim money for their losses. A Quakertown boat accident lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers knows how to investigate these situations and make the responsible parties pay. Founding Partner Jon Ostroff and the skilled attorneys on our team have a track record of success, and as a boat owner himself, Jon is no stranger to the hazards present in our waterways. We have helped over 30,000 injury victims get the compensation they deserve—let us fight for you.
Safety Laws for Boating in Quakertown
To promote safety on the water, Pennsylvania regulates boating and requires everyone to obey certain laws. For example, 30 Pennsylvania Statute §5103 says that boaters born after January 1, 1982 must have a Boater Safety certificate to drive a boat with a motor exceeding 25 HP in Pennsylvania. Everyone operating personal watercraft must have a certificate.
Boating while intoxicated is illegal, and the same blood alcohol concentrations for motorists apply to boaters. Someone operates a boat illegally if they are over 21 and their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or above. A person under 21 is boating while under the influence if their BAC is .02 or higher. Penalties include fines, jail time, and loss of a boating license for up to a year.
Other laws govern how fast a boat may travel, how many personal floatation devices an operator must have on board, and how closely they may approach other vessels. If you were hurt in a watercraft accident, your local attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers could look for evidence that the operator caused your injuries by violating a safety law. If they broke boating laws, that is strong proof of negligence.
Negligence Causes Most Boating Accidents
Negligence is defined as failing to be as cautious as the circumstances require. If your Quakertown boat accident attorney proves another party’s negligence or recklessness caused your injuries, the negligent or reckless party owes you compensation.
The US Coast Guard reports that most boating accidents are caused by operator inexperience, lack of attention, failure to keep a proper lookout, speeding, and machinery failure caused by improper maintenance and repair. These forms of negligence could lead to dangerous scenarios on the water, such as the following:
- Many boat operators from the Quakertown area might be inexperienced because they may only use their boats a few weekends a year
- An inattentive boater could collide with an obstruction or cross another boat’s wake too quickly, leading to a capsize
- A careless or inexperienced operator might fail to watch for underwater hazards, swimmers, personal watercraft, and other boats
- Reckless speeding in a boat could put passengers and other people on the water in danger
- A negligent owner might fail to properly maintain their boat, leading to machinery failure
- A negligent manufacturer might produce a defective boat component
In many cases, several parties might share the blame for a boat accident. It is beneficial to have several parties share responsibility because it increases the chances that you can recover fair compensation for your losses.
Damages in a Boating Accident Case
Damages are the money a negligent party pays you to compensate for your injury and its effect on your life. Damages provide compensation for your physical pain, loss of life’s pleasures, emotional trauma, and for all of the other ways the injury has affected your quality of life.
Damages will also include the cost of the medical care you received and will need in the future. Your settlement or verdict can reimburse you for the time you lost at work, and for your reduced income in the future if you cannot return to work.
Punitive damages punish a party for exceptionally bad conduct. They are not usually awarded in personal injury cases, but if the negligent party was extremely reckless or acted maliciously, a judge might award them. A Quakertown attorney at our firm can explain whether punitive damages might be available in your boat collision case.
Get Paid for Your Boating Injuries with a Quakertown Attorney
If you were hurt while boating and the accident was someone else’s fault, don’t hesitate to make them pay for your injuries. You shouldn’t have to carry the financial burden of somebody else’s bad behavior.
A Quakertown boat accident lawyer can work to find the responsible parties and hold them accountable. Contact Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. You will not pay us anything until we get you the compensation you deserve, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
