The calm waters of a relaxing boat trip can transform into a nightmare in seconds when accidents occur. If you’ve been injured in a rental boat accident, connecting with a personal injury lawyer promptly can significantly improve your chances of financial recovery. Navigating these complex cases often requires examining rental agreements, gathering evidence, and proving another party’s negligence—all while you’re trying to heal from your injuries. A rental boat accident lawyer can help identify who’s liable for your damages and build a compelling case for compensation.
A lawyer makes this process significantly more straightforward while ensuring you have the time to overcome your losses. When dealing with the aftermath of an injury, managing legal complexities can feel overwhelming. Hollis Law Firm understands these challenges and works diligently to handle all aspects of your case, from gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies. With 15 years of experience representing injury victims, our attorney provides the guidance needed so you can focus on your recovery.
Examples of Negligence in Rental Boat Accidents
Several types of negligence can cause devastating rental boat accidents. Some of the most common include the following:
Boating in Restricted Areas
Landowners often make swimming and fishing areas off-limits to boaters to preserve the safety and sanctity of these environments. Boating in these areas can actively endanger boaters, fishers, and swimmers. Similarly, speeding in no-wake zones or trespassing in perilous waters, like around construction sites, puts boaters at greater risk for harm.
Illegally Operating a Rental Boat
Would-be renters must be of a certain age to legally operate a rental boat. Some states even require people interested in renting a boat to participate in a boater education certification course. If those renters operate a boat while underage or without passing the appropriate classes, they put themselves at greater risk for an accident.
Operating a Rental Boat While Under the Influence
While it’s tempting to enjoy a lazy day on the water with a few drinks, boating while intoxicated significantly increases a boater’s risk of causing an accident. Boaters with a blood alcohol content of 0.8 percent or greater can even be arrested for illegal conduct.
Excessive Speeding
Every waterway has a speed limit. Exceeding that limit makes it harder to control a boat and endangers renters and the people around them.
To hold the right parties responsible for a rental boating accident, you’ll need to gather enough data to prove that an allegedly liable party engaged in these or other forms of negligence on the water. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help you get the job done.
Who Can You Hold Responsible for a Rental Boat Accident?
The evidence you bring forward after a rental boating accident makes it easier to name the right person responsible for your recovery. You can use video footage, photos, witness statements, electronic evidence, and even physical debris to make your case. But who does that evidence give you the right to hold responsible for your recovery?
The parties most often found liable for rental boat losses can include the following:
- The boat’s manufacturer, particularly in situations where a practical failure endangered people in the water.
- Boating rental companies, especially if they fail to check a boater’s age or certifications before allowing them to operate a rental boat.
- Passengers and drivers on a misused boat, especially if accident victims can accuse them of misusing the boat in illegal behaviors.
You may have to examine relevant rental contracts before naming a specific party accountable for your accident. An experienced attorney can break down a contract’s legalese and pair their findings with the evidence from your accident scene to establish the narrative of negligence behind your losses.
Steps to Take After a Rental Boat Accident
If you want to prove fault in an accident involving a rental boat, our team recommends that you:
- Report your rental boating accident within 24 hours of a collision. The faster you report your accident, the sooner you can begin exploring the different tools you can use to recover.
- Collect evidence of another party’s negligence so long as it is safe for you to do so. If you’re seriously injured, you need to go to a hospital as soon as possible. You can ask an attorney to gather evidence relevant to your case for you.
- Don’t wait to get medical treatment. Even if you feel like you’re not seriously injured, the stress from your accident can make it harder for you to detect serious injuries. Working with emergency responders and, later, your general practitioner or other specialists can make it easier to create a formal record of the losses you sustained due to someone else’s negligence.
Finally, do not wait to get in touch with a rental boat accident attorney. If you want to file an insurance claim to recover loss-based damages, you may need an attorney to run interference with insurance claims adjusters on your behalf.Â
It’s Time to Talk to a Rental Boat Attorney
You don’t have to try to navigate the civil system alone. You have the right to ask a rental boat lawyer for legal support to advocate for the compensation you deserve. Hiring a qualified lawyer can help you find the data you need to prove fault and more effectively demand the compensation you deserve.
If you’re ready to speak with an experienced accident attorney, you can use this contact form or call (800) 701-3672 to schedule a free personal injury case consultation.
