Thousands of boating accidents occur each year, resulting in millions of dollars in property damage, serious injuries, and fatalities. There have been 234 boating accidents reported over the past five years in Connecticut alone. This includes accidents involving motorboats, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, and pontoons. If you are the victim of an accident, a Connecticut boating accident attorney can help. Click the number below to call us today.
Call Today For A Free Consultation (860) 346-2695
Nationwide data from 2013 counted 4,062 boating accidents resulting in 2,620 injuries and 560 deaths. Contributing factors to these accidents included:
- Operator inattention
- Operator inexperience
- Improper lookout
- Excessive speed
- Machinery failure
- Intoxication
If you have been involved in any of the above types of accidents, contact a Connecticut boating accident attorney to help you exercise your legal rights.
Why Hire Our Connecticut Boating Accident Attorneys?
- We actually care about our clients. We go above and beyond to make our clients feel comfortable and to get them the maximum results.
- We aren’t afraid of going to trial. We always prepare our clients’ boating accident cases as if they will go to trial. We know how to recover full compensation for you.
- Our attorneys get results. We have secured tens of millions of dollars in past settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.
- We represent all clients on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, and you do not have to pay any fees if we do not secure a recovery on your behalf.
Do You Need a Boating Accident Attorney?
You should always consult an experienced attorney if you have been injured in a boating accident in Connecticut. These accident cases are often confusing and difficult to litigate successfully compared to other personal injury claims. Boat accident claims may require significant resources to properly investigate and build a strong case. Hiring the right attorney can give you access to resources that you may not otherwise have.
Perhaps most importantly, hiring an attorney shows the insurance companies that you are serious about your claim. Insurance companies are in the business of protecting their profits and are notorious for treating injured claimants unfairly. An attorney can protect your best interests and maximize the value of your case.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Connecticut
Negligent operation, alcohol use, and other reckless behaviors cause most boating accidents in Connecticut. An operator’s negligence can cause many life-changing and fatal injuries, including drowning. In instances that the cause of death was known, 77 percent of boating accident victims drowned. Accidents can affect boat operators, passengers, or other people in the water. Recreational boating accidents may include collisions with another boat or fixed object, flooding, or a water skier mishap. Jet skis and other personal watercraft can also pose serious dangers to operators and passengers. Some of the most common causes of Connecticut boating accidents include:
- Boat operator negligence or recklessness.
- Driving a boat while intoxicated or with a BAC of 0.08% or greater.
- Driving a boat without a valid operator’s certification.
- Failing to check the weather.
- Improper boat or watercraft maintenance.
- Lack of proper safety equipment onboard.
- Speeding in the water.
- Boating at night without proper visibility measures.
Liability in Boat Accidents
As with most accident or injury cases, boat accident cases typically hinge on the concept of negligence. Any party or entity whose negligence resulted in the accident may be held liable. This includes negligent boat owners, purveyors of alcohol such as bars or restaurants, marinas, associations, and even boat or component manufacturers.
Safety Tips to Reduce Risks of Boating Accidents
Boating accidents occur when there is a lack of safety protocol in place. In order to prevent accidents from happening, this advice should be followed at all times.
- Life Jackets: Ensure that each person on the boat wears a properly fitted life jacket to prevent drowning.
- Take a Course: More than 7 out of 10 boating accidents are caused by operator error. Register for a boating course to learn how to navigate recreational boats.
- Refrain from Alcohol: Do not drink and operate a boat. It impairs judgment, balance, and coordination. Also, when mixed with heavy sun exposure, it can cause impairment more quickly. It is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Connecticut.
Connecticut requires a boating certificate for operation of all personal watercraft, such as jet-skis, and for any boat with an engine or sailboat 19.5 feet or longer.
Boat operators have a responsibility to themselves and to their passengers when out on the water. They should be held accountable if their negligence causes harm. People who have sustained injuries as a result of a boating accident may be eligible for compensation for medical costs, loss of wages due to an inability to work, plus pain and suffering.
Boating Laws in Connecticut
All boat owners and operators must obey Connecticut’s boating laws. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) controls water safety in the state. DEEP has certain rules that people must follow for safe boating. These rules include:
- Obtaining a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.
- Obeying a waterway’s posted speed limit or traveling at a safe speed.
- Exercising a degree of care that will prevent endangering others.
- Keeping USCG-approved lifejackets onboard for each person.
- Correcting hazardous issues with the boat right away.
All boat owners and operators must obey DEEP’s rules in order to prevent an accident. These laws exist to make our waterways as safe as possible. However, boaters often fail to follow them. When that happens and it results in an accident, the negligent boat operator could be liable for an injured victim’s damages.
Choose a Boating Accident Attorney
Our law firm proudly serves Connecticut in boating accident matters. Our experience and resources allow us to handle claims of this nature and achieve successful results for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Our law firm is here to help you explore your legal options and help you seek justice for your injuries and subsequent suffering.
Contact a Connecticut Boating Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has injuries from a boating accident, our experienced lawyers at The Flood Law Firm can help you get the compensation you deserve. We accept clients in Bridgeport, Danbury, Waterbury, Meriden, and Hartford, CT. Contact us today or call (860) 346-2695 for a free consultation.
Connecticut Office
190 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
P: (860) 346-2695
