If you were in a boating accident that resulted in severe injuries – you know how devastating it can be. Boat accidents can have catastrophic effects that negatively impact your life.
You likely have to take time away from work. You may be worried about your bills and your future financially. You deserve financial compensation for your injuries.
You need help to successfully handle a boat accident claim.
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers‘s boat accident lawyers can help with free legal advice and free legal case evaluations.
Our Maryland boat accident lawyers will work day and night to help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Let us take care of the legal side of your case – so you can focus on healing.
Please don’t worry about the legal fee. You can relax knowing we don’t charge any upfront fees. We operate on a contingency fee basis. You will never pay us a penny- until we win your case.
Getting a lawyer’s help will likely increase your compensation in the end too. Studies show that having legal representation can earn you over three times more money on your case than if you don’t have a lawyer. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Don’t wait to act. You are giving the insurance company an advantage by delaying. They are already looking for ways to deny or lower the value of your claim. Talking with the insurance company is not recommended. What your lawyer says can’t be used against you. What you say directly to the insurance adjuster can be held against you later in your case. Let your Maryland boat accident lawyer handle the insurance companies for you.
Protect the value of your claim by calling Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact us today or call (301) 936-0011 to schedule your free consultation.
Protecting the Rights of Boating Accident Victims for Over Three Decades
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a boating accident, you should seek the guidance of an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer who can help to protect your rights. The lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers have a long history of aggressively pursuing the maximum compensation available for clients who have suffered serious injuries or have lost loved ones in boating accidents. We have decades of trial and litigation experience on our side and will stop at nothing to maximize your compensation.
Causes of Boat Accidents
The following are some of the potential causes of boating accidents in Maryland:
- Alcohol: One-third of all boating accidents happen when at least one of the operators is boating under the influence of alcohol. Operating a boat while under the influence is illegal and carries heavy fines and potential incarceration.
- Carbon monoxide: The fumes from boat engines can be fatal if passengers are exposed to high concentrations of carbon monoxide.
- Lack of boating experience: If you can drive a car, you can legally drive a boat. Boaters are not required to take boating-specific classes in addition to what little instructions they may receive during drivers training. Vehicle drivers must take a driving test before being allowed to drive, but that is not the case with those operating a boat or other watercraft.
- Dangerous weather: Winds, rain, lightning strikes, and severe waves can lead boating injuries.
Boat Accident Liability
Boaters must adhere to the safety guidelines created by the United States Coast Guard. When an accident occurs, it is important to determine if the boat’s operator was acting in a reasonable manner or if there was negligence. Was the driver mindful of the conditions, other boaters, and the passengers on board? The key for a jury in a personal injury or wrongful death case in Maryland is to determine if the boat driver acted within the “reasonable person” standard.
The Rights of a Boat Accident Victim
There is legal recourse a boating injury victim may pursue, including compensation for:
- Property damage, if the dock, land, or building is damaged from the crash.
- Medical expenses, when there is personal injury and subsequent hospitalization from the crash.
- Non-economic damages, which a victim may receive for pain and suffering and for any permanent injuries and/or disabilities he or she may suffer.
- Additional losses, which may include boat repair fees or even loss of wages when personal injuries keep you from work.
Criminal Implications of a Maryland Boat Accident
In Maryland, negligent boat drivers may face civil and criminal liability. The state may charge a negligent boat driver for reckless driving, gross negligence, or boating while intoxicated. All carry heavy fines. Please remember to be safe each boating season. Always leave plenty of space between you and other boaters and be sure to review the safety guidelines set forth by the United States Coast Guard. Always wear a life jacket while on a boat.
