Wilson Boat Accident Lawyer
When people suffer injuries following boat accidents, they may be confused as to their legal rights. Everyone knows that accidents that occur on the roads can lead people to file claims for their losses from insurance companies. However, the legal procedures that control boat accident claims are often a mystery. Thankfully for injured individuals, a negligent boater could be held liable to provide compensation to people who suffer harm because of their actions.
A Wilson boat accident lawyer could help people to promote those rights. An experienced attorney could work to investigate the accident, to gather the evidence that names a defendant as negligent, and to accurately measure one’s losses to make proper claims for compensation.
Legal Responsibilities of Boaters
Taking a boat out on a public waterway creates a social contract. In exchange for the ability to use a public river, pond, or lake, these boaters assume a duty to protect all other people that they may encounter while on the water. This duty extends to other boaters, passengers within the boater’s vessel, swimmers, and even people on docks.
In fact, many laws exist to promote safe boating. Navigational buoys limit where a person may take their vessel, speed limits help to promote overall responsible operation, and requirements concerning proper lighting help people to avoid collisions at night. A defendant who fails to follow these laws places others in danger, and a conviction for breaking these laws is powerful evidence of boater negligence.
Ultimately, injured individuals must prove that a defendant’s negligence was the sole cause of their losses. A strict law called contributory negligence allows defendants to argue that an injured plaintiff’s own carelessness contributed to the incident. According to North Carolina Statute §1-139, a court that believes that a plaintiff had anything to do with an accident must completely negate any potential award. A Wilson boat accident lawyer could help to prove that a defendant boater’s negligence was the only cause of the accident.
Potential Recoverable Damages in a Boating Accident
The purpose of a boat accident claim in Wilson is to make an injured plaintiff whole again. This means placing them in the same position that they would have been in had the incident never occurred. As a result, it is essential to evaluate the full effect of the collision on a person’s life.
The most important part of any boat accident case is to prove a physical injury. Common examples of these in boating accidents include severe cuts, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones. A claim would always demand compensation for the cost of all required medical care.
Claims must also evaluate the effect of the incident on a person’s finances. Many injuries are so severe that they force a plaintiff to miss time at work. Others even inflict permanent injuries that forever limit a person’s ability to earn a living. Here, defendants are liable to pay back the value of any lost wages.
Finally, most personal injuries also have a mental component. From simple pain and suffering, to emotional trauma, to flashbacks or PTSD, a claim must make efforts to evaluate the mental impact of the incident on a plaintiff’s life. A Wilson boat accident lawyer could help to pursue boat accident claims for their true value.
A Wilson Boat Accident Attorney May be Able to Help
Suffering an accident because of the negligence of a boater can be a frustrating experience. Oftentimes, you were trying to enjoy a relaxing day on the water or never even left the dock. Yet because of the carelessness of another boater, or their failure to follow the clear rules of the water, you suffered an injury that affects every part of your life. Thankfully, you have the ability to fight for what is right.
With the help of a Wilson boat accident lawyer, you may be able to argue that a defendant’s actions were the sole cause of the incident and that you are entitled to full payments for your injuries. To get started on your case, get in touch with an experienced attorney today.
