Your Rights if Hurt in a Boating Accident

Many Ohioans spend summer days out on the water. Paying a commercial boating operation to take you out may seem safe, but sometimes tragedy occurs. When someone is badly injured in a boating accident, it can take some time to recover fully and medical expenses can mount.

Unfortunately, boat accidents are quite common in Ohio. The State Department of Natural Resources reported that there were 113 boating accidents in Ohio in 2016, causing 54 injuries and 12 fatalities.

If this has happened to you, help is available from a recreational vehicle lawyer. Even the most unforeseen events may have a root cause. The law of negligence allows you to explore legal options if your accident was the result of someone acting irresponsibly or failing to take good care of your safety.

Who Is Responsible?

Negligence means that someone who had a duty towards you failed to meet the standard of care expected of them. If their failure to act appropriately caused your injuries, you may have legal recourse. Depending on what happened in your boating accident, the tour company, boat operator, boat manufacturer or maintenance crew may be at fault.

What Support Can I Receive?

In general, you can recover losses directly attributable to the boating accident. Your personal injury attorney can discuss this with you at length, but you may have access to medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages.

In Ohio, your damages may be reduced if you were contributorily negligent. Contributory negligence means the victim’s own actions were a partial cause of the injuries. The amount of settlement or judgment decreases according to the percentage the victim is at fault.

What If I Signed a Waiver?

Most boating companies ask you to sign a waiver before boarding. However, the mere fact of signing a waiver does not mean you cannot sue. You cannot waive your right to take legal action if there was a risk you could not have anticipated, for example. By speaking with a lawyer, you can determine the full extent of your rights.

Where Can I Go For Help?

Facing life after injury is not easy, for injured people or their families. Often, the road ahead is unclear and you may face numerous medical and financial challenges. The personal injury attorneys at Ohio’s FDS Law are here to help. If you want to learn more, contact us a for a free, no-obligation consultation.