NJ Watercraft Accident Lawyers Win Compensation for Injuries
Skilled advocacy for victims of recreational boating accidents
New Jersey is known as the Garden State, but it is also blessed with beautiful coastlines, lakes and rivers, from the Jersey Shore to the Delaware Water Gap. Unfortunately, people who take to the water for boating and other recreation sometimes forget the all-important axiom: safety first. Boating accidents that spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic have not abated, and given the popularity of recreational watercraft, possible mishaps are always on the horizon. If you or a loved one is seriously injured in an accident on the water, Seigel Law in Ridgewood can help you pursue financial compensation. For more than 45 years, our firm has focused solely on personal injury law. We thoroughly investigate watercraft accidents to identify responsible parties, then work tirelessly to hold them fully accountable.
Types of watercraft accidents in New Jersey
In the summer of 2021, a teenager piloting a pontoon boat at night on Barnegat Bay struck a mile marker. The collision ejected passengers, one of whom drowned. Such an accident, though perhaps uncommon, illustrates the perils of failing to follow safety rules. Accidents can occur on any of the following watercraft:
- Tour and sightseeing boats
- Commuter watercraft
- Private yachts, motorboats and sailboats
- Personal watercraft, such as jet skis
- Recreational fishing boats
The most common type of boating accident is a collision with another vehicle. According to the United States Coast Guard, the leading factors that contribute to such crashes include:
- Alcohol use
- Operation in hazardous waters
- Operator inexperience
- Operator inattention
- Weather
- Excessive speed
- Improper lookout
- Navigation rules violation
- Machinery failure
Recreational boaters might mistakenly believe that on the open water, they are free from legal constraints. On the contrary, watercraft operators must obey water traffic safety laws. For example, they are prohibited from operating a vessel under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, a narcotic or a hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug. Intoxication means a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher.
Businesses that transport riders or rent personal watercraft must adhere to safety standards of their industry, so that they do not expose customers to unreasonable risk. When an accident occurs on the open water, the potential for death by drowning or for catastrophic injury is very real.
Injuries related to boating New Jersey accidents
Boat accidents can involve collisions with other watercraft or fixed objects, falls overboard, falls onto the deck, steps or pier, capsizing or flooding. Common injuries that result include:
- Drowning
- Brain injury due to trauma or near drowning
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Propeller injuries
When a negligent person causes a boating accident, anyone injured is entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. If you are hurt in such a mishap, our attorneys are determined to recover the maximum amount possible in your personal injury suit, via settlement or trial.
Contact an experienced Ridgewood, NJ lawyer to discuss your watercraft accident claim
Seigel Law in Ridgewood represents victims of watercraft accidents throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation, call {PHONE) or contact us online.
