Elk Grove Boat Accident Attorney

Your boat is your pride and joy. The way you sail through the water is safe yet still adventurous. No matter how much fun you have or how safe you are, accidents still happen. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney will be there to help you when you are injured.

California is a boat enthusiasts dream. The weather and the sun is almost always conducive for boating. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney understands the lure. Some days it is almost a sin to work instead of enjoying the sun, wind and water on your boat.

Many Californians struggle with this. There are about 900,000 registered water vessels in the Golden State. This is a certainly a factor in why the odds of an accident is so high. This is a noteworthy reason to be prepared in case of an accident.

Life vests and knowing what to do if you are thrown over your vessel is important. Therefore, water safety is nothing to splash about. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney takes accidents seriously. Hence, you don’t want to find yourself at fault for a boat accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boat accident contact an Elk Grove boat accident attorney. You may be entitled to legal compensation. Consequently, the majority of boat accidents are due to negligence from one of the people involved.

Common Causes of Boat Accidents

External conditions like weather can be the cause of a boat accident. However, the leading cause of boat accidents are due to recklessness or negligence. The fun summer sun can be distracting. More and more people are using boats to host parties. People tend to pack drinking, music and dancing on a tiny, fast, water vessel.

As a result, accidents tend to happen easily. Another reason accidents occur is because of the reckless operation of a boat. It is fun to make fast turns on a boat. Making waves and spraying water around is hard to resist. As a result, people may fall overboard.

If you have been injured in a boat accident, contact an Elk Grove boat accident attorney today. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney will gather evidence and put together a detailed case of the incident. They will be able to decipher if the accident was due to the negligence of another individual.

What to Do Immediately After a Boat Accident

Some accidents may require the operator of the boat to report the incident. A report must be submitted to the California Department of Boating. This must be done as soon as possible. The individual operating the boat is also responsible to help anyone injured in the boat.

Furthermore, the report to the California Department of Boating is only necessary when:

• There is property damage worth $500 or more.
• There was a death or a passenger disappeared.
• A passenger sustained an injury that required medical treatment beyond primary first aid.

The statute of Limitations Regarding Boat Accidents

An Elk Grove boat accident attorney should be contacted as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline to file a formal lawsuit. Many people put off filing a formal complaint for an incident because of relationship ties to the operator of the boat. Furthermore, recovery can be overwhelming. Some boat accidents can be catastrophic.

Many employers treat their employees to boating or rafting trips for fun team building and bonding exercises. The Jones Act of the Merchant Marine Act allows an injured individual to claim damages from their employer if they can prove negligence.

Know that a statute of limitations is the time frame in which an individual has to file a formal complaint for their injury. This is another reason to contact an Elk Grove boat accident attorney. Don’t hesitate, act now. Time doesn’t wait for anyone. Certainly it is better to file and withdraw than not to be able to seek damages when you need compensation.

The current statute of limitations for an injury involving a boat accident is two years. There are some exceptions.

These exceptions include:

• The injured is a minor under 18
• The injury was discovered later rather than right after the injury
• The injured became mentally incapable of physically paralyzed

An Elk Grove boat accident attorney will guide you through the process.

How Are Damages Calculated?

When your Elk Grove boat accident attorney deciphers who the negligent party is, then you can file for damages. Recovering compensable damages can be a long road. One of the steps is to calculate the damages owed to you.

Some of the damages to include are:

• Lost wages while you are healing and recovering. Rehabilitation can prevent an individual from working. Missing work can take a toll financially. Recovering lost wages will be included in calculating damages. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney will also calculate future lost wages if you are still unable to work.
• Medical expenses you incurred for recovery and to regain your functionality will be a major factor. In some cases, injuries can be so severe that they require lifetime care.

Any medical treatments that will be ongoing or are foreseen in the future will need to be documented.

Non-traditional expenses like acupuncture and massage therapy may have significance in your formal lawsuit. To be safe, it is prudent to include any medical related expense as damages.

• Pain and suffering is a definite factor. It is hard to put a dollar amount to the pain and suffering you have to endure to fully recover. This is why an Elk Grove boat accident attorney is so necessary. They know how the court determines the value of the trauma you are going through.
• There is emotional stress from the accident. Likewise, people can suddenly have anxiety and panic attacks from the sight of a boat or water. This may be an indicator that a person has taken on a phobia from their experience.

Everything needs to be taken into consideration when filing a formal lawsuit. Working with an Elk Grove boat accident attorney will help you get the compensable damages you deserve.

How to Choose the Right Boat Accident Attorney

An Elk Grove boat accident attorney is extremely important in your ability to recover as much in damages as possible. An Elk Grove boat accident attorney will help you understand the laws that govern your case. Your attorney will work with you to calculate the damages you should be awarded. Remember, an Elk Grove boat accident attorney adds value to your case:

1. Experience – The number of years spent as an Elk Grove boat accident attorney matter. Skilled attorneys will be able to handle the case with an expertise that is unmatched.
2. Success– Just look at the reviews of the Elk Grove boat accident attorney you are considering. You want to hire an attorney with an admirable success rate. Their success rate is often available on their websites.
3. Level of Comfort – Lastly, it is very important that you work with an Elk Grove boat accident attorney who you feel comfortable with and who shows compassion for your case.

How We Can Help

Remember your Injuries matter. Your pain and suffering matters.

We understand your situation. The emotional and physical endurance that you have to go through as a result of a boat accident can have major implications on your quality of life.

Our skills and knowledge will surely help you heal peacefully. Do not wait another day. Contact an Elk Grove boat accident attorney to help you out of deep water.