Whether you are on land or out on the water, you take on a “duty of care” requiring you to act responsibly and reasonably whenever you take control of something with a motor attached to it. That also includes a boat with sails or paddles. Everyone around you owes this same duty right back. If anyone fails to live up to this duty and it leads directly to you getting hurt, you may be able to file suit against them over their legal negligence.
However, proving someone else liable for a boat collision or another type of waterborne accident can be complicated in numerous ways, as any experienced personal injury attorney could tell you. For a chance at getting repaid fairly for your losses, you should make it a priority to contact a Katy boat accident lawyer.
Much like it says with auto accidents, Texas state law requires people involved in boating accidents to stop their vessels afterwards and aid any other person who needs help. They are only protected from doing so if it would put themselves or their passengers in danger. Additionally, under state law, boat operators in Pittsville or Pattison who are involved in collisions must provide identifying information to any person who sustained injury. This information should include their name, address, and vessel identification details.
If a boating accident results in more than $2,000 of property damage, any injury requiring professional medical treatment, or any disappearance or death, each vessel operator must file a written accident report with the Parks & Wildlife Department. This must occur no later than 30 days after the incident or no later than 48 hours in the event of a fatality. Complying with these requirements is crucial to avoiding legal repercussions later on and to preserving an injured person’s right to file suit against someone else they believe was responsible.
A Katy boat collision attorney could further explain what legal hurdles a person needs to meet if they wish to fight for compensation.
Contrary to what some people may think, falling out of a boat and hitting water at a high rate of speed can be just as dangerous as hitting asphalt after a motor vehicle wreck. Between that, and the fact that boaters generally are not wearing seatbelts or protected by any similar safety devices, boat collisions in Fulshear tend to cause severe injuries that have long-lasting consequences.
Every one of those consequences could be factored into a lawsuit or settlement demand against someone whose negligence directly caused a boat accident, including:
Proper guidance from a boat accident lawyer in Katy can be key to identifying, valuating, and collecting compensation for the harms that resulted.
Boating accidents can cause life-altering harm to many people across the state every single year. If you have been hurt through this type of accident, and you believe it stemmed from someone else’s misconduct, you may need professional legal help if you want to make sure that person pays for your injuries and losses.
A Katy boat accident lawyer is a valuable ally throughout the entirety of your legal proceedings. Call today for a consultation with our legal team.
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