New Jersey is fortunate to have excellent venues for boating, from the Delaware Water Gap to the Jersey Shore. But with the enjoyment and excitement of this form of recreation comes significant risks. During the five-year period from 2018 through 2022, New Jersey saw an average of 77 boating accidents per year, according to a U.S. Coast Guard study. For accident victims and their families, the question is who to look to for compensation for injuries suffered.
Boating accidents can lead to numerous injuries ranging from relatively minor all the way to fatal. Depending on the nature of the accident, fault could be attributed to one party or might be shared. Here are some of the parties who could bear legal liability following a mishap on the water:
Compensation from insurance may or may not be available to those injured in boating accidents. New Jersey does not require private boat owners to carry insurance, so an accident victim may have to get compensation directly from the owner. On the other hand, businesses that operate or rent watercraft routinely carry insurance. The insurers for various parties will generally decide how to apportion provable losses between them.
If insurance is nonexistent or inadequate, the injured party or the family of a fatal accident victim can file a personal injury lawsuit against one or more of the parties involved. A qualified New Jersey boating accident lawyer can help you pursue a claim with the goal of maximizing recovery from all possible sources.
At Seigel Law in Ridgewood, we have wide experience obtaining financial compensation for New Jersey watercraft accident victims. Call our office at 201-444-4000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.