Amherst Boating Accident Lawyer
Boating accidents can be fatal. When a reckless, distracted, inebriated, inexperienced, or otherwise negligent boat operator collides with another vessel or a stationary object, both their passengers and the occupants of other vessels can be violently thrown to the deck or onto other hard surfaces; the resulting trauma could cause injuries that are fatal in nature. The force of impact could also send unsuspecting accident victims crashing into the water, where they may lose their lives by drowning.
Passengers who are jettisoned from their boat may survive the traumatic collision. However, if they become trapped underwater for more than a few minutes, the prolonged lack of oxygen could cause boating accident survivors to develop anoxic brain injuries. Anoxic brain injuries can significantly impact a boating accident victim’s quality of life, impeding their physical and cognitive abilities and causing overwhelming behavioural and psychological changes.
The negligence of a boat driver can cause unsuspecting passengers to develop permanent brain damage. Injured boating accident victims who have sustained anoxic brain injuries may struggle maintaining their jobs, their social relationships, and their independence as a result of their symptoms. Similar to the effects of severe traumatic brain injuries, the symptoms of anoxic brain injuries often include:
- Anomia: linguistic difficulties, including inability to find the right word, confusing similar sounding words, failure to understand common words, etc.
- Ataxia: lack of coordination
- Apraxia: inability to perform familiar physical tasks (i.e. brushing teeth, using utensils, etc.)
- Quadriparesis: weakness of arms and legs
- Memory loss
- Difficulty processing visual information
- Mood swings
- Difficulty reasoning, making decisions, synthesizing information
- And more
In order to reduce the risk of fatal or injurious accidents on the water, anyone who drives a pleasure craft with more than 10 horsepower anywhere throughout the country is required to obtain a license and comply with national marine laws. As such, they must operate their boats with a reasonable degree of caution at all times. If a boat driver violates the law and operates their vessel in a negligent manner, they essentially neglect the duty of care they owe their passengers and the occupants of other nearby boats. Doing so may be considered negligence.
In the waters near Amherst, some common examples of negligence that often result in boating accidents include:
- Operating the boat under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Distracted driving
- Reckless boat operation
- Excessive speeding
- Operating the boat without proper credentials
- Failing to comply with right-of-way rules
- And more
If a boat driver’s negligence caused an accident in which you were injured, our boating accident lawyers may be able to provide you with crucial legal advice and assistance. By working with our Amherst boating accident lawyers, you may be able to pursue a civil claim against the negligent boat operator whose wrongful conduct caused you to sustain injuries. In doing so, our boating accident lawyers serving Amherst may be able to help you recover financial compensation for damages you incurred as a result of your accident, as well as damages you may incur in the future.
To learn whether you may be eligible to pursue a claim for damages, book a free consultation with our Amherst boating accident lawyers by calling Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
Free Consultation for Amherst Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
Injurious boating accidents can have profound, life-changing consequences. If someone else’s negligence caused an accident in which you were injured, our Amherst boating accident lawyers may be able to help you recover fair compensation.
To learn whether you may be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained, schedule your free initial consultation with our boating accident lawyers serving Amherst by contacting Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
