Summers in West Virginia mean thousands of boaters on the state’s many lakes and marinas. Unfortunately, not all boat and watercraft ventures are safe. Every year, boaters end up in hospitals with serious injuries – often from accidents that were preventable.
If you believe someone else could have prevented your recent boat or watercraft accident in West Virginia, contact Robinette Legal Group, PLLC to learn more about your legal rights during a free consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation to help you move forward.
Do You Need to Hire an Attorney?
Legally, you do not need to hire an attorney. Doing so, however, can be a great help to you and your family during a complicated boating accident lawsuit. When going up against a boat owner’s insurance company, having an attorney by your side increases the odds of achieving an adequate settlement for your injuries and losses. This is especially important if you suffered a severe injury that will require future medical care. You can concentrate on healing from your injuries while a lawyer takes care of the legal process for you.
What Causes West Virginia Boating Accidents?
Holding someone financially responsible for your recent watercraft or boating accident in West Virginia generally takes proving that another person or party caused the accident. The burden of proof in a personal injury case is enough evidence to show that the defendant more likely than not caused your boating collision.
Common causes of boating accidents include:
- Excessive speed
- Violating waterway rules
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Operator inexperience
- Boating under the influence
- Distracted or careless operator
- Hazardous conditions or waters
- Machinery failure
- Fires or explosions on board
If you or your boating accident attorney can prove that the defendant owed you a duty to be reasonably careful, breached, or violated this duty, and that this is what caused your boat accident, that party is financially responsible for your related losses. An attorney can help you understand what caused your boating accident, as well as gather evidence to prove fault.
Common Injuries Suffered in Watercraft Disasters
The injuries suffered in a boat or watercraft accident can be severe. Depending on the circumstances of the boating accident, a victim can suffer a variety of injuries, including hard- and soft-tissue injuries as well as drowning injuries.
Some of the most common injuries associated with watercraft accidents are:
- Anoxic brain injuries from lack of oxygen
- Broken bones
- Dismemberment
- Electrocutions
- Head and brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations
- Neck injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
The injuries you suffer in a boat or watercraft accident in West Virginia can require thousands of dollars in past and future medical expenses. Even a minor injury can result in expensive medical bills and losses of income from taking time off of work. In West Virginia, the law may entitle you to financial compensation for these losses after a boat accident.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Filing an injury claim after a boating accident allows you to seek financial compensation from one or more at-fault parties for your past and future losses. Many boating accident cases go through the at-fault boater’s property insurance company. A successful insurance settlement or – in the rare event that you have to go to trial – jury verdict can compensate you for several losses, including lost wages, hospital bills, physical pain, emotional distress, property repairs, and lost quality of life. The value of your particular case is something you must discuss with an attorney, as each boating accident case is unique.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Attorney Jeff Robinette previously worked to defend insurance companies against personal injury lawsuits. Today, he uses what he knows about how insurance companies work to represent injured accident victims. This gives him unique knowledge about the tactics insurance companies used to devalue claims.
Robinette Law Group, PLLC has the ability to create strong legal strategies that focus on the weaknesses in an insurance company’s case. To find out how we can help you after a West Virginia boat or watercraft accident, request a free consultation. Call (304) 594-1800 or contact us online today and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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