Columbia, Missouri, Boat Accident Attorney

The waters of the Missouri, Mississippi, Osage, and Meramec Rivers, the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, and countless other bodies throughout the state make Missouri a popular place for boaters and other marine enthusiasts. While a summer day or a weekend spent cruising the state’s waterways typically proceeds without incident, accidents do happen, and it’s important to know what to do if you run into trouble on the water.

Unfortunately, boat accidents present a serious threat to your safety. Even if you take all the proper precautions, another person’s negligence or recklessness can lead to a catastrophic accident, resulting in severe injuries. Thankfully, a Columbia, Missouri, boat accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for any medical expenses and other losses arising from a boat accident.

If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident on one of Missouri’s waterways, Holland Injury Law, LLC, can help you fight for justice. We’ve spent over 30 years advocating for the rights of injury victims, and we’re prepared to put our skills and experience to work on your behalf. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation with a Columbia, Missouri, boat accident lawyer.

Common Types of Boating Accidents

Accidents involving boats come in many forms. Some of the most common boat accidents on the Missouri river and other waterways include:

Collisions with Other Boats — Whether due to speed, poor visibility, lack of attention, or miscalculation of distance, boats can collide with each other, causing severe injuries.
Collisions with Fixed Objects — Boats can also collide with fixed objects, such as docks, buoys, piers, and more. The force of these collisions can lead to serious injury.
Waterskiing and Tubing Accidents — Many Missouri water enthusiasts enjoy tubing and waterskiing, but accidents involving individuals being pulled behind boats can be deadly.
Falls Overboard — Falling overboard due to choppy waters, sudden stops, or collisions carries a risk of head injury and drowning, among other injuries.
Capsizing — When vessels capsize, passengers can find themselves trapped beneath the boat, creating a considerable drowning risk.
Propeller Accidents — Accidents in which a person comes in contact with a moving propeller blade pose an immediate risk of severe blood loss and a threat of infection.

If your boat accident injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, a Columbia, Missouri, boat collision lawyer can help you pursue compensation.

Common Causes of Boating Accidents

Boat accidents may have a variety of causes, although many of them come down to negligence on the part of the operator or another party. Some of the most common causes of boat accidents include:

Operator impairment due to alcohol or drugs
Operator distraction or failure to pay attention
Operator inexperience or lack of familiarity with the vessel
Excessive or unsafe speed
Operating the boat in generally unsafe conditions
Failure to follow the rules of the water
Failure to properly maintain the vessel

Many boat accidents have more than one cause. Your boat accident lawyer near Columbia, Missouri, will investigate and identify all causes and contributing factors that led to the accident that injured you.

Common Injuries from Boating Accidents in Columbia, Missouri

Boating accidents can cause severe injuries, and given the remote nature of some of Missouri’s waterways, getting necessary medical assistance to the scene can be challenging. Some of the more common boating accident injuries include:

Head and neck injuries, including whiplash, concussion, and traumatic brain injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Blunt force trauma
Cuts and lacerations
Limb loss resulting from propeller accidents
Infection
Electrocution
Oxygen deprivation due to near drowning

Because boating accidents carry unique risks, you need a Columbia attorney for water-related injuries on your side. Lacerations, compound fractures, and other open wounds carry a high risk of infection when exposed to waterborne pathogens. Additionally, any injury that limits mobility, impairs cognitive function, or results in loss of consciousness creates an immediate risk of drowning. Even near-drowning incidents in which the victim survives can lead to lifelong complications. A boat accident attorney near Columbia, Missouri, will evaluate your injuries to determine an appropriate amount of compensation to seek in your case.

Head and neck injuries, including whiplash, concussion, and traumatic brain injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Blunt force trauma
Cuts and lacerations
Limb loss resulting from propeller accidents
Infection
Electrocution
Oxygen deprivation due to near drowning

Determining Liability in Columbia Boat Accidents

The nature of boating in Missouri means several different parties may share liability for an accident. Depending on the circumstances and the parties involved, any of the following parties may be liable:

Boat Operators — Boat operators may be liable if they were operating the vessel in an impaired, negligent, reckless, irresponsible, inexperienced, or otherwise unsafe manner.
Boat Owners — Boat owners who weren’t operating their vessel at the time of the accident may still be responsible if they allowed an inexperienced, underage, or otherwise ill-suited person to operate their boat.
Boating Businesses — Many businesses operate boats on Missouri waters. If your accident involved a tour vessel, party boat, rental boat, or other commercial operation, the business may be liable.
Local or State Authorities — The government or private entities responsible for maintaining safe waterways may be responsible if they failed in their duties.
Boat Manufacturers — Manufacturing defects can lead to equipment failures that cause boat accidents. If this happens, boat manufacturers can be held liable for injuries.

Your boat accident lawyer in Columbia, Missouri, will identify all liable parties in the accident that injured you so they can pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve.

What Compensation Is Available in Columbia Boat Accident Cases?

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of losses, including:

Past, ongoing, and expected future medical expenses
Lost income and loss of earning capacity
Loss of quality of life
Physical and emotional pain and suffering

The medical treatment necessary for boating injuries can be considerable, and the expenses can add up quickly, not least because boating injuries often require emergency response and transportation via ambulance to the nearest hospital. When you work with a watercraft injury attorney in Columbia, they’ll review the details of your case to pursue the maximum compensation for your losses.

How a Boat Accident Attorney Can Help

Experiencing a boat accident can be deeply traumatic. If you also suffered physical injuries, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your medical treatment, your inability to work, and the general disruption to your life. A Columbia, Missouri, maritime attorney can help you focus on healing by handling your legal process. Your attorney will:

Investigate the accident
Identify all liable parties
Prepare your case
Calculate your losses to determine fair compensation
Pursue a settlement through negotiations with insurance companies
File a lawsuit and take your case to court if no fair settlement offer is forthcoming

Having an experienced boat accident lawyer in your corner provides much-needed peace of mind and strengthens your likelihood of recovering compensation for your injuries and other losses.

Contact a Columbia, Missouri, Boat Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve recently been through the trauma of a boat accident caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you deserve the support of a knowledgeable attorney who can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Holland Injury Law, LLC, is a Columbia law firm specializing in boat accidents. We have recovered over $175 million for injury claims, including Lake of the Ozarks boating injury claims. Our team is committed to supporting you as you strive to move forward following an accident. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Columbia, Missouri, personal injury lawyer who’s prepared to advocate for your rights.

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