South Carolina is home to over twelve major lakes. It has miles of coastline and a beautiful intra-coastal waterway. People from different parts of the world enjoy the luxury of some of the finest boating and fishing waters in the United States. Unfortunately, the waterways’ popularity has led to increased boating and watercraft accidents.
While there are fewer boating accidents and water-related accidents than car accidents, the injuries and long-term impact can be just as severe, resulting in lost wages and future earning potential, current and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or loss of enjoyment of life.
The aftermath of a boating accident can be confusing, and you might not know what to do next. You have the legal right to seek representation.
A Columbia boat accident lawyer from The Solomon Law Group, LLC might be able to help you get compensation for everything you’ve been through. Our lawyers are experienced, skilled, compassionate, and want to stand up for your rights.
What are the Common Causes of Boat Accidents?
High-speed boats have a higher chance of getting in accidents than sailboats. There are many ways for a boat accident to occur. The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 boating accident report lists some of the most common reasons for boat accidents:
- Collisions. Collisions with a recreational vessel caused 1071 accidents, 47 deaths, and 650 injuries. Collisions with a fixed object caused 493 accidents, 44 deaths, and 326 injuries.
- Grounding. The 413 accidents had 16 deaths and 253 injuries.
- Falls Overboard. This caused 299 accidents, with 189 deaths and 122 injuries.
In 2019, drowning was the main cause of death in boating accidents, with 439 deaths. Out of that group, 57 were wearing life jackets, 362 were not wearing them, and 20 were unknown whether they wore or did not wear a life jacket.
Motorized boats aren’t the only water-based vehicles that commonly get into accidents, either. Personal watercraft accidents are common, and many occur due to other vehicle operators who fail to pay attention or otherwise operate their vessels negligently.
If you’ve been injured in any type of watercraft accident, legal compensation may be available with help from our boat accident attorney in Columbia.
Boating Safety Tips
The United States Coast Guard’s accident report also stated in 2019 that boat accidents caused 2,559 injuries and 613 deaths. Nine out of 10 of the people who drowned weren’t wearing life jackets.
Drowning was the leading cause of death in those boat accidents at 72 percent. In fatal boat accidents, alcohol was a main contributor.
To avoid common boating accidents or injuries, the CDC has some safety tips that you can follow:
- Wear a Life Jacket. If you’re in an accident and are thrown from the boat, a life jacket can save your life. The shock and possible injuries from a boat accident might make it difficult for you to swim, so you and everyone else on the boat should always wear life jackets.
- Avoid Alcohol. Drinking alcohol and driving a boat is illegal and reckless. Your ability to judge situations, reaction time, balance, and coordination are all impaired when you’re under the influence.
- Get Educated. You can take a boating education course to teach you how to safely navigate and use the boat. This might help you avoid possibly dangerous situations in the future if you have the education and training.
- Get a Vessel Safety Check (VSC). The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron offer this free public service. A certified vessel examiner will inspect your boat, and if your boat passes, you will get a decal that will show that your vessel complies with all federal and state laws.
Safety is the most important aspect of boating. The water can be dangerous, and even though you follow all the safety precautions, that doesn’t mean your boat operator or another boater on the water will. If a boater ignored safety tips and got into an accident that injured you, then you could use the help of a boat accident lawyer.
Hiring boating accident attorneys in Charleston South Carolina can help you recover financially from your injuries while you focus on recovering physically and emotionally.
Negligence in Boat Accidents
After being injured in an accident on the water, you might need a Columbia boat accident attorney to help file a boat accident claim. At The Solomon Law Group, LLC, our lawyers have experience building claims for our clients, and we understand that your case relies on proving the negligence of the boater who caused your collision and subsequent injuries.
Boaters must pay close attention when driving and be completely sober, or else they could cause a serious accident that can lead to injuries or drowning of everyone on board. Here are some of the most common ways that a boater can be negligent on the water:
- Distracted driving
- Improper lookout
- Driver inexperience
- Speeding
- Alcohol or drug use
- Navigation rules violation
- Driving recklessly through busy or dangerous waters
All of these actions can be considered negligent by a boat operator, so when a Columbia boat accident law firm investigates what happened in your boat wreck, they will be able to use these actions to prove negligence.
Your South Carolina boating accident lawyer will collect evidence that proves the following:
- The boater had a legal duty to keep you safe.
- The boater breached that duty by driving recklessly or negligently.
- You suffered an injury from that breach of duty.
- Your injuries from the accident caused you physical, emotional, or financial damages.
You shouldn’t suffer from your injuries and financial hardships alone—the negligent boater should be held responsible for their actions so you can recover the compensation that you deserve.
When you hire our boating accident attorneys in Charleston, South Carolina, you should be assured that they’ll fully investigate your claim and build the strongest case possible to prove that the at-fault driver caused your injuries and must be held responsible for their actions.
Sadly, some boat accidents can result in a fatality. When that occurs, the surviving family is entitled to seek compensation for the loss of their loved one. That can include damages for lost earnings and lose of companionship. An experienced South Carolina fatal boat accident lawyer will fight for you and get you the justice you deserve.
Do You Need a Columbia Boat Accident Lawyer?
Have you or a loved one been injured in a boat accident or a personal watercraft accident? The Solomon Law Group, LLC, knows how financially and emotionally stressful this time can be, especially when you’re trying to recover.
Our Columbia boat accident lawyer understands the regulations involving boating and watercraft operations. We handle claims arising from incidents involving private boats, ferries and charter boats, cruise ships, personal watercraft, docks and marinas, diving accidents, and drunken boating.
Don’t wait. Reach out to us today to talk about your rights, options, and what’s in your best interests.
