Injuries from boating accidents are usually very serious. These type of accidents can result in lost wages, long recovery times and even significant medical expenses. If you were involved in a boat accident, you may benefit from talking to an expert Bloomington boat accident lawyer.
At Weston Law Office, our boat accident attorneys have decades of experience handling these complex claims. We’ve helped many clients who were injured in boating accidents in Bloomington, Minnesota recover compensation for their losses. If you also want to pursue compensation for your injuries, then definitely get in touch with our expert attorneys.
Our attorneys are also well-versed in Minnesota’s boating and personal injury laws . There are different federal, state and international maritime laws that you need to be aware of. Each has their own regulations regarding boating accidents. Luckily, our lawyers have a proven track record and can help you figure this out. Building a successful claim to receive compensation can be a complicated process.
In short, boating accidents are one of our specialities (you can find all our practice areas here). Definitely get in touch with us for a free consultation as soon as you get injured in a Minnesota boating accident.
Types of Boat Accident Cases We Handle
At Weston Office, our boat accident attorney are prepared to take an boat accident cases involving many different types of accidents. Some of these cases include the following:
Mechanical Defects or Malfunction
It’s possible that your boat malfunctions and causes a serious injury. In this case you might be able to purseu compensation from the product manufacturer, designer or retailer (according to who’s fault it was).
Boating While Intoxicated
Most of our cases are actually drunk driving accidents, but occasionally a boat operator also consume alcohol while handling their recreational boats. Consuming alcohol leads to a lot of unnecessary distractions and can have serious consequences. Call us,
Drowning
Drowning is a boat accident that usually is preventable. It’s said that more than 80% of people involved in boat accident deaths due to drowning were not wearing life jackets.
If you combine the above with alcohol or drug impairment, distracted behavior and not caring about the speed limits, it’s a recipe for a deadly accident.
Boating Collision and Other Type of Collissions
We all know that boat collissions can happen if you are not careful. You can even collide with a stationary object, such as a rock beneath the water surface. You can also run into a swimmer, which will cause serious injuries for the swimmer, such as fractures, head traumas and even drowning.
These boat collissions become more dangerous the further away from shore you are. The reason for this is because it limits the ability for medical help to arrive quickly.
There are also a lot of jet ski accidents. These type of collissions often occur because of inexperienced or careless drivers.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
We would also like to mention carbon monoxide poisoning. There’s a number of different ways this can happen. A couple of common occurrences include an exhaust leak, a poorly-ventilated boat, being to close to another boat or traveling for a long period of time at a slow speed.
You should familiarize yourself with these early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. It may save yours or someone else’s life. Below are some of these early signs:
- Headache
- Irrated eyes
- Onset of Nausea
- Sudden dizziness
- Unexplained weakness
Main Causes of Boating Accidents in Minnesota
Above we already mentioned what kind of boating accident cases we handle. But how are these accidents causes? Here you’ll find the main causes of these common boat accident injureis.
- Negligence
As with other vehicles, negligence can be the main cause of an accident. An operator may be considered negligent for:
- Operating at a high speed
- Forgetting to take safety equipment on board
- Failing to know the ‘’rules of the road’’ as required by the FFWCC
- Overloading or overcrowding the boat.
- Hitting a big wave at excessive speed
- Reckless and Careless Operation
Boating operators always need to operate their vessel in a prudent and reasonable manner. You have to be aware of other vessel traffic, posted restrictions and other circumstances. This is needed to ensure the safety of other boats, guests and property.
If you fail to follow these rules, this may be reckless and careless operation of the vessel. After multiple citations it can even be possible that the offender needs to complete a boating education before being permitted to operate a vessel again.
- Boating Under the Influence
Under Minnesota state law, it is illegal to operate a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Just like with DUI’s, boating can’t be done under influence. If an individual is suspected of driving a boat, it’s possible that they are required to take a sobriety test. Refusal to take that test can lead to revocation of the operator’s boating privileges.
According to law, an individual is intoxicated if their blood or breath alcohol level is at or above .08%.
What Can A Boating Attorney Do For Me?
Our attorneys handle all kinds of personal injury cases, including maritime claims. We will use all our combined experience to determine the laws, theories, statutes and jurisdictions that are applicable to your claim.
Visit our offices located in Bloomington, Minnesota to receive more information. We can establish who needs to be held liable for your losses.
It’s important that you make this claim, because if you fail to fail your claim you may be unable to recover compensation for your boating injuries.
What Legal Recourse Is Available for Boating Injuries?
What should I do when I get injured in a boating accident? Victims can be eligible for some sort of compensation. Usually, negligence is the most common cause of action under which boating accident lawsuits are filed. We’ve had a lot of experience with these types of claims.
The law applicable will depend also on the individual’s status on the vessel (are you an employee, guest, owner or operator), as well as the location of the accident. Accidents that happen further from share may fall under maritime law, while accidents close to share will fall under Minnesota and federal law.
The party responsible for a boating accident injury will vary by case. It’s important to talk to a professional lawyer, so there isn’t any confusion.
To collect damages, the plaintiff’s injuries must be directly linked to the boating accident.
Speak to Our Professional Boating Accident Attorneys
The personal injury lawyers at Weston Law Office in Bloomington, MN have been handling boat accident cases for over a decade and and have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Our accident law firm has extensive experience representing victims of boat accidents, including those who have received personal injuries, as well as wrongful death cases throughout the state of Minnesota.
We offer a 100% free consultation with one of our experienced attorney to learn more about your case and legal options. You may be entitled to compensation when you are injured in a boating accident. This type of accident is different from other vehicle accidents, so it’s important you contact our personal injury attorneys to understand your case thoroughly.
Where can you find us?
We are conveniently located in the center of Bloomington, Minnesota. Below you’ll find more information about our location.
Name: Weston Law Boating Accident Lawyers
Address: 900 American Boulevard East Suite 124, Bloomington, MN 55420
Phone: 612-465-9049
To learn more about how our team at Weston Law can help you, please get in touch with us today. We handle every case as a unique case, and give you the attention that you deserve.
Where you involved in another type of accident? We are also able to help you with the following:
Car Accidents
Truck Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Snowmobile Accidents