Oakland Boating Accidents Lawyer
California’s waters have seen a steady increase in the amount of vessel traffic with the popularity of recreational boating and personal watercraft. Busy waterways have also increased the risks for a boating accident to occur. In 2009, California boating accidents resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people, and nationally, took the lives of more than 600, according the United States Coast Guard. Operators who behave recklessly or negligently and disobey boating traffic laws (which are very similar to a motorist’s) cause many tragic boating accidents that end in serious injuries or death for innocent passengers and boaters.
The Oakland personal injury law firm of Estey Bomberger can help those seriously injured by a boating crash or personal watercraft accident. Let our Oakland boating accident lawyers put their experience in personal injury claims to work at recovering maximum financial compensation for expenses related to your injuries, which may include medical costs and expenses, lost wages, future lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Types of Boating Accident Causes
Operator inattention, speeding excessively, boating under the influence (BUI) and inappropriate behavior by passengers are the main causes of recreational boating accidents. If an operator is not paying attention, a skier or swimmer may be run over by the boat and propeller, or collide with another boat, resulting in serious injury or death. Alcohol impairment can cause an operator to easily lose control of the vessel, capsizing or flooding the boat. When an operator is speeding and makes a sharp turn, passengers may slip and fall or be thrown from the vessel and into the path of oncoming boats. Occasionally, an explosion or fuel spill will happen because of a defective boat part or poorly designed vessel.
Wave Runners and Jet Skis
Personal watercraft (Jet-ski, Sea-doo or Waverunner) is designed to carry one to three people and can be ridden sitting, standing or kneeling. The small, compact size and speed of personal watercraft (PWC) has increased its popularity within recent years. Manufacturers have increased the horsepower with every new model, hoping to attract more consumers, but this speed, combined with operator inexperience has cause many PWC injuries. Almost 34 percent of all reported boating accident injuries were associated with the use of a PWC, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Recently the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the industry take steps to make PWCs safer for operators, in the hopes of preventing more injuries.
Oakland Boating Accident Injuries
Boating accident injuries can vary from the most minor injury, a scrape or bruise, to a major, severe injury, such as amputation or spinal cord damage. The most common injury for a boater is lacerations. Unlike a cut, lacerations are a torn or jagged wound, usually caused by blunt force and if not treated, can lead to infection. Following lacerations, broken bones or fractures are the second most common boating injury. Broken bones often require surgery to repair the bone and usually take a long time to heal. According to the United Sates Coast Guard, internal organ injury, hypothermia, sprains, drowning, concussions, and dislocation injuries have been sustained by boating accident victims throughout 2009. With any boating accident, there is always the concern of drowning and drowning related injuries. Near drownings can cause permanent brain damage and other disability.
No Fees Unless We Win
By contacting an Oakland boating accident attorney today you are taking the first important step to protecting your legal rights. The Estey Bomberger law firm has been recovering maximum compensation for boating accident victims and their families for decades. We handle all boating accident personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. This simply means that if we represent you, in the unlikely event that we do not recover money for expenses related to your injuries, you will not pay any fees. Contact an Oakland personal injury lawyer at Estey Bomberger today by calling (510) 978-4380. You may also fill out our online case review form and an attorney will contact you to discuss your case. Because you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim, do not wait to contact a lawyer about your potential claim.