What many boat passengers don’t realize is that boating accidents can be just as severe as other motor vehicle crashes. They often involve blunt force trauma that can break bones and cause head injuries, and there’s the additional risk of drowning when passengers are thrown overboard following a collision.
If you were injured in a boat accident in Missouri, contact the St. Louis-area office of Holland Injury Law, LLC, for a free case evaluation from one of our experienced lawyers. We’ll walk you through the process of seeking the compensation you need for your medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering, and answer any questions you have about your case in particular.
Boat accidents can occur for many reasons, including operator error, mechanical failure, and poor weather. Understanding how the accident that caused your injuries happened is the first step in identifying the at-fault party and holding them financially liable for the harm they caused.
Some of the most common causes of boat accidents in Missouri include:
There are many types of boat accidents that occur on Missouri waterways. Some of these accidents involve commercial boats that take large numbers of passengers out on the water, while others involve personal watercrafts. There are also rental boats that don’t require operators to have prior experience, leading to dangerous situations on lakes and rivers.
Accidents involving these watercrafts may include passengers falling overboard, watercraft colliding with each other or with fixed objects, fires caused by engine failures, and capsizing due to severe weather conditions.
Depending on how the boat accident occurred, several parties could be liable for your injuries. For example, if you were a passenger, the boat’s operator could be liable if they were distracted, intoxicated, inexperienced, or speeding when the incident happened.
Additionally, the boat’s owner or maintenance provider could share responsibility if the incident was caused by the boat being in disrepair or if the maintenance performed on it was inadequate. And if safety equipment failures contributed to your injuries, such as if a life vest didn’t prevent you from drowning after going overboard, the equipment manufacturer could be at fault.
Boating accidents can result in various severe injuries to operators, passengers, and other individuals in the water. Common injuries our attorneys see resulting from these accidents are:
Securing compensation for these injuries requires obtaining robust evidence to support your claim. This can be challenging to do on your own while recovering from your injuries, but an experienced lawyer from our law office can collect evidence on your behalf.
The compensation you may recover through your boating accident lawsuit depends on the severity and extent of your injuries. Generally, the more severe your injuries are, the more your case will be worth.
Compensation also depends on the losses you incurred, which are the negative impacts your injuries have on your life. Losses you can seek compensation for include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability.
Working with a skilled attorney is critical for maximizing your compensation, as they can accurately assess the value of your losses and negotiate with insurers on your behalf.
Immediately following a boating accident, it’s crucial that you take the right steps to strengthen your case and protect your rights. Any time you are in a boating accident, it’s important to:
Our boat accident investigation process begins with our attorneys speaking to you about the incident and your injuries. We’ll then identify the party or parties responsible for the incident and start collecting evidence that ties their actions to your injuries.
Through our investigation, some of the evidence our law firm may collect includes:
After we’ve identified the at-fault parties and collected the necessary evidence, we’ll file your lawsuit and begin negotiating with insurance companies to seek a fair settlement in your case.
Below, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about boating accidents in Missouri. If you have further questions about your case, our St. Louis-area lawyers are happy to answer them during your initial consultation.
In Missouri, boat operators are not required to have insurance. However, many operators do have insurance because it protects them from being personally liable for accidents they cause.
After a boat accident injury, you should always find out whether the operator has boating insurance. If they do, you can file a claim with their insurance company. However, if they do not, you’ll have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the operator directly.
Under Missouri’s statute of limitations for personal injuries, boat accident victims have five years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for harming them. This time limit begins counting down on the date of your injury, and failing to file before the deadline expires will result in your case being thrown out.
While five years is a long time, it’s crucial to begin working with a lawyer as soon as possible so they can gather the evidence needed to support your case before it’s gone.
It’s always in your best interest to hire an experienced attorney from a qualified law office following a boat accident in Missouri. The state’s personal injury laws can be complex, and insurance providers often take advantage of victims who don’t have legal representation. A lawyer will protect your rights and help you seek the maximum compensation.
If you sustained injuries in a Missouri boating accident, contact Holland Injury Law, LLC, for a free consultation. Our law firm has recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients, and we’re prepared to put our experience to work for you.
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