Lake Havasu Boating Accident Lawyer
Whether you are a novice or seasoned boater in Lake Havasu, Arizona, accidents can happen. If you were injured in a recent boating accident in Arizona, please contact a Lake Havasu boat accident lawyer at Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal rights. We can answer your legal questions and give you advice about how to move forward during a free consultation.
How Can a Boating Accident Lawyer Help?
Unfortunately, boating insurance companies are notorious for trying to save money by diminishing payouts and denying claims. It may be difficult to obtain an adequate amount for your injuries and economic damages. An experienced boating accident attorney can help you negotiate a fair insurance settlement using proven legal tactics.
Hiring a Harris & Harris injury compensation attorney after a serious boating accident can give you honest and straightforward information about your rights as an injured accident victim. Your lawyer can take care of things such as investigating your boating accident and gathering evidence while you concentrate on healing from your injuries.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents on Lake Havasu
According to the most recent data available, there were 108 watercraft accidents with 86 injuries in Arizona in a single year. Many of these accidents took place on Lake Havasu, which is one of the most popular lakes for recreational boating in the state. It is one of the only lakes in Arizona that allow watercraft with two-stroke motors.
Statistics show that some of the most common causes of boating accidents in Arizona are:
- Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Operator error
- Speeding, racing or reckless boating
- Boat-to-boat collisions
- Operator inattention
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Collisions with fixed objects
- Failure to take the weather into account
- Watercraft breakdowns
- Electrical malfunctions
- Boats capsizing
- Fires and explosions
- Lack of proper safety equipment onboard
Human error is the main cause of boating accidents in Arizona. It is the operator of the vessel’s responsibility to keep a proper lookout, obey waterway rules and boat safely. When vessel operators are careless or reckless, accidents occur.
Is Someone Liable for Your Boating Accident?
Liability is the legal term for financial responsibility for an accident. In personal injury law, the liable party is typically the person or entity responsible for causing the accident. If you were injured in a boating accident on Lake Havasu, a few different parties may bear liability for your injuries, medical bills and other related losses:
- The boat operator
- The owner of the vessel
- A third-party boater
- A commercial or fishing boat rental company
- A negligent boat mechanic
- The person who incorrectly installed a part
- A boat manufacturer (for a defective part)
- The owner of a dock or property
To hold someone liable for your boating accident, you or your Lake Havasu personal injury attorney must prove that the person was negligent and that this is what caused the accident. Evidence of negligence may come in the form of signed eyewitness statements, photographs and videos, an accident report, medical records, an inspector’s report of the vessel, and expert testimony.
Boating Safety Tips
Boating can be a dangerous activity under the wrong circumstances. If you are the person operating a boat, do not drink on the job. It is your responsibility to boat safely and responsibly. Keep a proper lookout at all times for other boats, docks, swimmers and watercraft. Obey all waterway rules, including speed limits.
If you are not the person operating the boat, do not get on board if the driver has been drinking, is underage or does not have a boating license. Always check the weather, including wind speeds and water conditions, before setting out.
Contact Our Lake Havasu Boat Accident Attorneys Today
A boating accident can cause serious injuries that require long-term medical care and expensive treatments. You may suffer lost wages and pain and suffering, as well. At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we have more than 20 years of experience representing injured boating accident victims and their families. Our Lake Havasu boat accident lawyers can help you seek justice and financial recovery.
Discuss all the ways we can assist you with a boating accident claim during a free consultation in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Contact us online or call (702) 384-1414 anytime.