BOAT ACCIDENTS

If you have been injured in a boat accident, you may be entitled to a cash settlement for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earnings and other expenses. Additionally, if a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, the survivors may be entitled to a wrongful death award. At the Levinson Law Group, we are aggressive San Diego personal injury lawyers who represent victims of boat accidents and their survivors for a contingent fee, which means that we only charge a fee if we win you a judgment or a cash settlement. Call the Levinson Law Group at 1-866-643-HURT (4878) today for a free consultation.

Boating accidents can be tragic. Hiring a competent boating accident attorney to assert your boating accident injury claim is the smartest thing you can do after one of these tragic events.

Federal law requires every operator of every water-going vessel involved in an accident resulting in death, disappearance, injury beyond first aid, property damage over $2,000, or complete loss of a vessel to submit a boating accident report. Each year, the U.S. Coast Guard gathers statistics on reported recreational boat accidents. There are over 3,000 serious injuries and over 600 deaths every year due to boat accidents. According to a 2005 report, the number of boating fatalities, injuries, and accidents has gone down significantly since 1995. Overall, the leading causes of all reported boat accidents were:

• Careless/reckless operation
• Operator inattention
• Excessive speed
• Operator inexperience
• Sea and weather conditions
• Poor planning
• Poor Maintenance

Approximately 70% of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction. Alcohol use was either a direct or indirect contributing factor in 25% of boat accident fatalities. California ranks second for most fatalities in recreational boating accidents by state.

Here are some tips for preventing boat injuries and deaths:

• Wear your life jacket
• Do not use alcohol while boating
• Complete a boating education course
• Participate in the Vessel Safety Check program

Life jackets are an important boating safety device. Fatal accident data shows that 87% of victims who drowned in boating accidents were not wearing personal flotation devices. Life jackets are available to the public on a loan basis. Ask your local fire station or CSUS aquatic center for information on the nearest Life Jacket Loan Station.

It is important to seek representation from a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following a boat accident. The boat itself, or its parts, may be critical evidence in your claim, especially in a case of defective or unsafe boating equipment. Your time is limited when it comes to making a claim, so it is important to obtain counsel as quickly as possible. At the Levinson Law Group, you can have the best legal representation available for no money out of your pocket. We work on a contingent fee and offer a free consultation. We will fight to get you the justice you deserve. Call the Levinson Law Group at 1-866-643-HURT (4878) to schedule a free consultation today.