Hackensack Boat Accident Lawyer

Recreational boat crashes involve non-commercial water vessels, including motorboats, sailboats, yachts, and jet skis. When negligence is involved, they can be particularly serious. Boat accidents can result in severe and life-altering injuries and, in the worst cases, fatalities.

Many individuals suffer significant harm in crashes each year because of other people’s negligent behavior. An attorney can help you exercise your right to file a claim for damages and seek compensation if someone else’s recklessness causes you harm. Contact a skilled Hackensack boat accident lawyer from our firm to learn more.

What are the Primary Causes of Boat Accidents?

Negligent actions are often a primary factor in recreational boat crashes. The most common examples of negligence include:

• Boat operator negligence, including speeding, inattention, failing to adhere to the navigation rules, or boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Equipment malfunctions and maintenance issues, leading to safety gear failures and defective watercraft parts
• Passenger recklessness, such as roughhousing or failing to adhere to the navigation and boating safety rules and regulations
• Environmental or external factors, including inclement weather conditions, collisions with fixed objects or other vessels, or operator recklessness

Negligence on the waterways can lead to capsizing, passengers falling overboard, collisions, fires, and sinking. If a boat accident caused you injury, a Hackensack lawyer can help identify why it occurred.

Determining Liability After an Accident on the Water

A Hackensack attorney can help determine liability after a watercraft accident by investigating the circumstances that led to the incident and identifying who is at fault. We can collect evidence, take witness statements, review accident reports, and request that an expert analyze the case. Boat operators have a duty to act safely and use caution at all times to avoid causing harm to passengers, other boaters, and swimmers in the water around them.

When someone’s actions are careless and fail to meet the expected standard, they breach their duty of care. Your claim must demonstrate this breach and that the liable party’s violation directly relates to the injuries and losses you sustained during the accident. Finally, you must gather all the evidence to show that you suffered verifiable injuries and other damages.

The Potential Recoverable Damages

After establishing fault, the civil court judge typically awards monetary damages within two groups to compensate you for your injuries and other losses. The first category, called economic damages, involves your financial losses, such as hospital and other health care bills, ongoing medical services, and lost pay for the time you miss work. The second category covers the non-economic injuries you suffer, such as emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, permanent disabilities, and pain and suffering.

Boating Laws

All boat owners and operators must review, ensure they understand, and adhere to the state boating rules and regulations. The New Jersey Coast Guard requires boaters to navigate the waters reasonably and prudently at all times, avoiding unsafe activities that could lead to severe accidents. They must travel at slow speeds, causing minimum wake when passing other watercraft or while close to docks and confined areas.

All boat owners must register their vessels with the state, regardless of length. Boats 12 feet and longer require registration and title. A lawyer will analyze the evidence and witness statements to determine if the operator was non-compliant at the time of your Hackensack boat accident.

Contact a Hackensack Attorney To Seek Compensation After a Boat Accident

A watercraft accident while you are out on one of the state’s waterways can leave you with severe injuries, property damage, and other losses. When avoidable incidents occur because of another person’s reckless behavior, we can help you hold them accountable. An award for damages can cover your medical expenses, lost salary, earning potential, and pain and suffering.

Call us to schedule a consultation with a Hackensack boat accident lawyer. Let us review your case and discuss your options.