Orange County Boat Accident Attorney

Experienced Boating Accident Lawyer Providing Dedicated Legal Representation to Victims Seeking Financial Compensation for Their Personal Injury Cases

Boating is one of California’s favorite recreation activities and represents commercial prospects for maritime workers. Civilians and maritime employees alike take to the Pacific Ocean aboard watercraft to enjoy nature, the sun, and each other’s company. Despite the attraction of the sea, however, hundreds of people lose their lives, thousands are injured, and millions of dollars are lost due to preventable boating accidents every year in the United States. Many boat accidents can be blamed on someone’s negligence or reckless actions, with liable parties potentially including boat operators, passengers, and others. In some boating accident cases, the cause of the accident may also be due to the failure or defect of boating equipment or machinery, meaning that the fault rests with the boat manufacturer.

If you have suffered boating injuries in an accident or tragically lost a loved one in a wrongful death incident, you may be eligible to recover fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. To succeed with your boating accident claim, you usually must prove that the accident and injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence. Proving negligence in a boating accident case can sometimes be complicated, especially for the injured party, who is still in shock following the incident. If you have been in an Orange County boat accident, we highly recommend seeking professional legal representation to assist you with your personal injury suit. Experienced boat accident lawyers can assist you in negotiating with the insurance company, gathering valuable evidence to support your personal injury claim, and representing you both in and out of court in pursuit of maximum compensation.

The Law Offices of Preston Easley is an Orange County law firm dedicated to personal injury matters and maritime law. The attorney and his highly skilled legal team have years of experience in practice areas related to maritime laws and boating accident claims. As your legal counsel, attorney Preston Easley will gather evidence to support your claim and prove fault against the liable party to help you recover compensation for your injuries and other losses. To learn more about our legal services, please schedule a free case evaluation with our Orange County law firm today.

What Are California’s Boating Safety Regulations and Laws?

Many boating accidents are reported across Southern California every year due to boat operator negligence and failure to follow state safety regulations. California has many safety requirements that boat operators and owners must adhere to. If the boat owner, operator, or any passengers act negligently and cause serious injuries to others in boating accidents, they may be held liable in a court of law.

The following are California’s basic boating safety rules and requirements:

• All boaters between the ages of 12 and 15 require adult supervision to operate any motor-powered vessels with 15 horsepower or greater. Exceptions include sailboats under 30 feet in length when using sails for propulsion
• All boats 16 feet or longer, except for kayaks and canoes, must carry one wearable life jacket for every person on board and one throwable device in every boat. Life jackets must be readily accessible to every passenger on a personal watercraft
• Boat operators are prohibited from operating water-faring vessels or towed devices (such as wakeboards or water skis) while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. A boat operator with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more will be considered under the influence and may face harsh penalties. Additionally, California has a zero-tolerance policy for anyone under the age of 21 consuming alcohol and operating watercraft
• All personal watercraft must be registered at any California DMV office. Upon registration, the DMV will issue the boat owners registration stickers, a certificate of number, and a certificate of ownership. Certain exceptions apply, and not all vessels may require registration
• The operation of jet skis must adhere to the same safety regulations as any other powerboat

The boat operator or owner may be liable if proper safety equipment is not on board or readily accessible to passengers and crew.

Are Boats Involved in Many Accidents in Southern California?

The state compiles general statistics on recreational boating accidents for the public. In the 2016 report for Southern California, there were 322 loading accidents resulting in over 100 injuries and 14 fatalities. These Southern California boat accidents represented 55% of all boating collisions and accidents statewide, 44% of the injuries, and 28% of all boat accident fatalities. This data includes Orange County, Los Angeles County, Fresno County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Monterey County, and more.

The Pacific Ocean, Newport Harbor, San Diego Bay, and the Colorado River were the most common areas for Southern California boating accidents.

In Orange County, California, many boat accidents involved collisions with other boats, failure to operate boats safely, grounding incidents, and capsizing. Open motorboats and cabin motorboats were among the vessels most seen in noteworthy boat accident statistics.

What Should You Do if You’re Ever in an Orange County Boating Accident?

After a boating accident, you must take certain steps to ensure your well-being and safeguard the viability of your boat accident claim.

Like a car accident or any other vehicle accident, you must preserve all evidence of the accident for your boat accident attorneys and any accident reconstruction specialist. This may include preserving the propellers, engine, steering wheel, seat belts, first aid kit, and safety flotation devices in the condition that they were at the time of the incident.

Seek medical attention immediately following the boating incident. Even if you believe that you have not suffered a serious injury, it’s still important to receive professional medical treatment. Some injuries may not be readily apparent right at the beginning.

Before you speak to the insurance company, contact experienced boating accident lawyers about your case. Our law firm offers prospective new clients interested in retaining our legal services free case evaluations.

While you should accept any help from first responders, including the Coast Guard, you should never provide a recorded statement before speaking with your lawyers.

Gather evidence to support your personal injury claim, including taking photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and the state of the watercraft (if it remains above water).

Accident reports, medical records, eyewitness testimonies, and photos from the accident scene will prove invaluable to your boat accident lawyer.

How Do You Report Boat Accidents?

Under federal law, all boating accidents must be reported by filing a boating accident report with the state of California or some other boating authority.

Reports must be made within 48 hours after any accident involving a boat or its equipment under the following circumstances:

• An individual dies because of the boating incident
• A person requires emergency medical care beyond first aid
• Instances where a person disappears from the watercraft, such as being lost at sea

Boating accident reports must be filed with the proper authorities within 10 days if only the vessel or property damage occurs.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring Boat Accident Lawyers?

Maritime law and personal injury matters can be complicated, especially for injured parties and grieving family members in the immediate aftermath of a boat accident. It’s important to remember that you needn’t go through the legal process on your own. Personal injury and trial attorneys represent injured parties seeking financial recovery for their losses and have the knowledge necessary to help maximize the total compensation that could be recoverable.

When you are injured in a boating accident, it’s essential that you know your legal rights and understand what steps to take to defend yourself and the viability of your personal injury claims. While you are recovering from a serious injury, you may incur significant medical expenses and may miss work, which could lead to lost income. As the injured party, you should not be responsible for these expenses. An experienced attorney will attempt to prove negligence on the defendant’s part while providing valuable legal advice to the plaintiff.

It’s also important to remember that insurance companies do not always have your back. Insurance adjusters will look for ways to limit liability and devalue your personal injury claim. With the help of an Orange County personal injury attorney, you can better negotiate with the insurance company in pursuit of fair and full compensation. Please contact our Orange County law office today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our legal team.

What Are Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Orange County, CA?

According to the United States Coast Guard, the most common causes of boat accidents include the following:

• Boat operator negligence, inattention, or human error
• Boat rentals that were not outfitted with proper safety equipment
• Boating collisions with other vessels or with fixed objects, such as docks, piers, or submerged objects
• Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Capsizing
• Dangerous weather conditions and high seas
• Failure to inform passengers of the location of safety devices
• Fires in the engine room, kitchen, or common area
• Grounding
• Improper boat maintenance
• Inadequate crew member training
• Machine defects or equipment failures
• Medical complications for snorkelers and scuba divers
• No proper lookout on the watercraft
• Operator Inexperience
• Overcrowding
• Passengers falling overboard
• Propeller accidents
• Reckless behavior of boat passengers or skiers
• Sinking or swamping
• Slip and fall accidents
• Speeding
• Strong wake from another watercraft
• Water skiing accidents

What Are Common Boating Accident Injuries?

Boat accidents can cause serious injuries to passengers and crew alike. You must seek immediate medical attention if you have been injured in a boat accident.

Common injuries suffered by boating accident victims include the following:

• Back and neck injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns, including chemical burns
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Crushing injuries, especially to hands or feet
• Disfigurement
• Drowning or near-drowning
• Eye injuries, sometimes resulting in loss of vision
• Head injuries, including concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and open head wounds
• Hypothermia
• Loss of limbs or fingers
• Soft tissue injuries, including torn ligaments
• Spinal cord injuries, which can sometimes result in disability, including paralysis
• Wrongful death

Statistics show that more Americans are hurt in a jet ski accident than in any other type of boating accident.

Who May Be Held Liable in Boating Accident Cases?

Depending on the facts of your case, several parties may be held liable for damages. The injured party or the surviving family members of drowning victims and other wrongful death victims can seek compensation for negligence from the boat operator, boat owner, boat manufacturers, rental companies, other boaters, or boat passengers.

There are four main criteria to prove negligence in a boating accident claim: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. It’s highly recommended that you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer for assistance proving these four elements of negligence so that you can hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Contact our Orange County law offices to schedule your free initial consultation today.

What Sort of Financial Compensation Is Possible with a Successful Boat Accident Claim?

With a successful personal injury lawsuit, it is possible to recover a fair settlement that can help make you financially ‘whole’ again and ease the burden of losses from your boating accident. Retaining professional legal counsel helps you recover the maximum compensation for your injuries and financial losses. Injured plaintiffs who opt to go without legal representation often find it far more difficult to recover the adequate settlements they deserve.

Potential financial recovery in a boating accident case may include the following economic or non-economic damages:

• Any out-of-pocket expenses related to the boating accident
• Disability, disfigurement, or dismemberment damages
• Legal fees and court costs
• Loss of earning capacity if the injured party cannot return to their former place of employment due to their injuries
• Lost wages if the injured party is unable to return to work for a time
• Past medical bills and future medical expenses, including reimbursement for emergency medical treatment, surgical procedures, and prescription medication
• Physical pain and suffering compensation
• Wrongful death damages, which can include loss of consortium, lost benefits, mental anguish, and funeral expenses

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Orange County Boating Accident Attorney Today

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a recreational boating accident in Orange County, our law firm would be proud to represent your interests in pursuit of justice and financial compensation.

Boat accident attorney and maritime law professional Preston Easley has extensive experience representing clients in complex personal injury matters, including commercial and recreational boating incidents. The attorney and his compassionate legal team will work tirelessly to help you recover the settlement you deserve and require following your unfortunate accident.

We encourage prospective new clients to reach out to our Orange County law firm to schedule a free case review with the attorney and his staff soon after any boating accident. In your free consultation, we will review your case’s facts and help you determine your legal options for filing a claim.

Contact us today at 310-773-5207.