The Bay Area can be a beautiful place to spend the weekends out on the water. Thousands of people take their motorboats, sailboats, and personal water vessels out on the Bay every year. Unfortunately, not every excursion ends well. In 2016, two people died in boating accidents in the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout California, there were 50 fatalities and 266 injuries in boating accidents in 2016. If you or a loved one has been in a boating accident in the San Jose or SF Bay region, contact the boat accident lawyersHenshaw Law Office for legal counsel.
Collisions with other vessels are by far the most common type of boating accidents in California (209 collisions in 2016). One boat may collide with another if the vessel operator isn’t paying attention, fails to scan the waterway, misjudges the distance between vessels, isn’t trained to operate the boat, or operates the boat while intoxicated. When a boat collides with another vessel, it can cause expensive property damage and serious to fatal injuries. Injuries can occur during the impact as well as from being submerged in the water if ejected from the vessel. Other common types of boating accidents in California include:
Even the most competent and prudent boater can be involved in an accident with someone who is negligent. The number one cause of boating accidents in California is operator inattention, which contributed to 188 out of 588 total accidents in 2016. Operator inexperience was in second place, followed by excessive speed and machinery failure. Most crashes are preventable with proper vessel maintenance and a competent, reasonably careful operator. After any kind of boating accident in San Jose or San Francisco, get together with a qualified personal injury attorney.
Boat accidents can easily cause serious or fatal injuries, as well as thousands of dollars in property damage. Another boater’s insurance may not cover all of the losses you suffer in a collision. In a single-vehicle crash, a hit-and-run, or a collision with an uninsured boater, you may have to get creative in how you obtain financial recovery. You may need to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party or parties. An attorney can help you make the right choice for you and your family after a harmful boat accident.
Boat operators and their passengers are typically vulnerable in accidents. They can suffer broken bones, lacerations, and head or brain injuries in the impact or from falls onboard. If ejected, they can suffer brain damage or death from accidental drowning. Injuries in a boating accident can be life-changing.
After an accident on the water in any type of vessel, or as a swimmer, contact the boat accident attorneys at Henshaw Law Office. We will review your case for free and help you decide what action to take next. Call (408) 599-1305 or go online to schedule your appointment.
