Houston Boating Accident Attorney

Did you lose a loved one in a boating accident, or did you or a relative suffer injuries while boating on Texas waters? If so, you need to work with an experienced Houston boat accident attorney from The Krist Law Firm, P.C. We have years of experience helping individuals who suffered injuries while out on the water. We will help you compile evidence, determine liability for the potentially life-changing incident or other types of auto accidents, and fight for your financial recovery.

Boating is a common pastime in Texas, which has more than 360 miles of coastline, and a greater amount of inland water than any other state. There are also more than 580,000 registered boats within the state, which means on any given day, thousands of boaters could be out on state waters and cause an accident that could be fatal. That is why it’s important to retain legal counsel if you find yourself in a situation where you need a boating accident lawyer.

While recreational boating can be a safe hobby, it is like driving a vehicle in that it can also lead to accidents. In 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard determined there were 176 boating accidents in Texas. Of these incidents, 48 were fatal and led to 53 individual deaths. This was an annual increase in both accidents and deaths for Texas. In 2015, there were 154 boating accidents in the state’s waters. While only 39 accidents were fatal, they did, unfortunately, lead to 44 deaths.

If you lost a spouse, parent, or child, you may have the right to move forward with a wrongful death claim. If you suffered injuries, you may be able to seek damages through a personal injury claim.

To get started, call Houston personal injury attorneys at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. today at 281-283-8500 .

Common Causes of Boating Accidents

Boating is not the exact same as driving a vehicle, yet there are similarities between the two modes of transportation. When boat operators are properly educated and trained, pay attention, and do their best to avoid accidents, collisions with other vessels or property are rare. Like with cars, crashes occur because the person who is supposed to be responsible and in control of the vehicle is careless or reckless. They fail to behave as they should, increasing the risk of an accident. It is this negligence that makes them responsible for other people’s injuries if they cause a crash.

Negligent acts that commonly cause boating accidents include:

• Excessive speeding
• Operator inattention and distraction
• Failing to maintain a proper lookout
• Operating a boat while intoxicated
• Violating the Navigational Rules
• Boating in poor weather or dangerous waters
• Improperly loading cargo
• Operating a vessel without the proper qualifications
• Improperly maintaining the boat

Contact a Lawyer With Boating Accident Experience

Following a boating accident that leads to injuries or death, you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who has hands-on experience with boating accident claims and cases. The process of recovering compensation following a boating accident is in some ways similar to recovering damages after a car accident. However, there are key differences that require the experience of a lawyer who has handled boating accidents before. Investigating a boating crash requires working with different types of evidence, cooperating with different local and state authorities, and hiring different expert witnesses than are used for auto accidents.

Proving fault and liability is also unique and based on Texas law and the Navigational Rules – not the rules of the road. Additionally, it is far more likely that the at-fault operator does not have insurance to cover your injuries, so you will need to move forward with a lawsuit.

Recovering Compensation After a Boating Accident

Once you have an experienced attorney by your side, you can take the crucial steps to recovering compensation after a boating accident. Your lawyer will seek to uncover important evidence, such as the boat itself, or other property involved in or affected by the accident. You may need the boat or property inspected by your own experts to help determine fault. No matter the state of the evidence, your legal team will work with boating experts to not only analyze fault but to build a case against the other vessel’s operator. The more evidence you have to support the other vessel operator’s liability, the greater your likelihood of obtaining the compensation you deserve under the law.

You have the right to pursue recovery for your:

• Medical costs
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical limitations
• Mental anguish
• Physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Property damage

Did You Lose a Loved One?

If you lost a loved one in a boating accident, you may have the right to move forward with a wrongful death claim. Under Texas law, a surviving spouse, parent, or child has the right to file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation following the loss of a loved one caused by another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional action. You can seek to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic injuries, including:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of financial contributions
• Loss of inheritance
• Loss of society
• Loss of support

In rare circumstances, punitive damages may be possible. These damages are not intended to compensate you for your loss. Instead, a court awards punitive damages to punish the at-fault party. If the accident that caused your loved one’s death was extreme and based on the other person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, you may be entitled to ask for punitive damages.

Let Our Proven Houston Boating Accident Lawyer Help You

Boating accidents are often devastating. Even if you did not lose a loved one, a serious crash can make a favorite hobby become a feared activity. You and your family members and friends may never want to step foot on a boat again because someone else and their reckless actions made you feel unsafe and scared. At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., we cannot change how you now feel about the water. However, we can help you seek justice and compensation for the harm someone else caused you.

Call us today at 281-283-8500 , or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.