Glendale Boating Accident Lawyers
Although Arizona is known for its desert climate, Glendale residents and tourists alike also enjoy taking advantage of the area’s lakes. Maricopa County is home to popular boating destinations, including Lake Pleasant and Arrowhead Lakes. As boat ownership rates have increased in recent years, the number of boat accidents has grown with it. When these accidents occur, you need the Glendale boating accident lawyers from Lerner and Rowe to help you recover compensation for the financial, physical, and mental costs associated with your injuries.
Our team of Glendale personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe are highly experienced in establishing liability and maximizing compensation for our injured clients. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation by calling us at 602-977-1900 or completing a free online case review today.
Why You Need The Glendale Boating Accident Lawyers From Lerner and Rowe
At Lerner and Rowe, we treat each client with respect, which for us means that their case receives the careful attention of a personal injury lawyer who specializes in the type of claim they are filing. We understand that no two Glendale boating accident lawsuits are the same, and we are prepared to employ exhaustive efforts to maximize your compensation for your damages, as we have done for countless clients over nearly two decades.
Our comprehensive services are highly sought after because Arizonans know that our seasoned team is trustworthy and effective. To us, it is important to create a positive experience for our injured clients during the personal injury claims process, as well as recover outstanding results for their damages. We accomplish this by being proactive communicators, detail-oriented researchers, and relentless negotiators. Clients appreciate our level of commitment and the results it yields.
Our boating accident attorneys do not shy away from complex claims, so whether you sustained an injury in a near-drowning experience on Lake Pleasant or slipped on a slick deck on a fishing expedition on Bartlett Lake, Lerner and Rowe clients can expect that their boating accident attorney will remain attentive, prepared, and accessible throughout the personal injury claims process.
Understanding Glendale Boating Accidents
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that there were 124 boating accidents in Arizona in 2022, with 13 fatalities. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 60 other boaters were injured, and boating accidents cost the state $1-million in damages that year. As of 2022, fatal boating accidents in Arizona are at a five-year high. Arizona has lax laws regarding boater education, which has made the activity accessible to inexperienced boaters. Glendale residents and visitors to the area should familiarize themselves with the most common mistakes Arizona boaters make, take the time to educate themselves, and properly equip their boats before enjoying a day on the water in order to avoid accidents.
What Causes Boating Accidents in Arizona?
The majority of boating accidents can be attributed to operator error. Boaters are responsible for the safety of their passengers and fellow operators by maneuvering cautiously, monitoring the path of nearby watercraft, and remaining sober enough to make sound decisions.
These duties are especially important considering boats can encounter traffic from any angle, emphasizing the need for quick reaction times and experience-based judgments. Typical causes of Arizona boating accidents include:
- Lack of experience or training
- Drunk operator
- Lack of a lookout
- Mechanical problem
- Lack of maintenance
- Ignoring speed limits or other maritime laws
- Failure to deploy or possess safety equipment
Passengers can also contribute to Arizona boating accidents by being disruptive and interfering with the operator’s ability to drive the boat safely.
Alcohol consumption is a common catalyst for this type of behavior. Intoxicated passengers may upset the balance of the boat, lose their own balance and fall overboard, get into altercations, or fail to perform their duties as the lookout and identify obstacles to the operator. This can jeopardize the safety of everyone on board.
A Glendale boating accident lawyer can launch an investigation into the boat collision and determine if the liable party.
Common Glendale Boating Accident Injuries
Operators and their passengers are effectively surrounded by hazards on a boat. There are numerous sharp edges, slippery surfaces, flammable chemicals, and wires conducting electricity. Glendale boaters have limited means to protect themselves from injury in an impact other than lifejackets, as the structure of most vessels is open by design and few have seatbelts, let alone airbags. Some of the most common Glendale boating accident injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations and contusions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation
- Severe burns
- Heatstroke
- Whiplash injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
Our Glendale boating accident lawyers have helped clients recover damages for these common injuries and more.
Complications of Boating Accidents
Our Glendale boating accident lawyers have helped clients recover damages for these common injuries and more. Additionally, boating accidents are especially dangerous due to the isolated water environment. Injuries and disorientation can easily lead to falling overboard, which increases the risks of drowning and injuries caused by propellers, hidden rocks, or debris.
Getting help after a boating accident can be slow depending on how far you are from shore. This delay can worsen the outcome of your injuries.
Being on the water further complicates a boating accident. First, someone who has been injured and is disoriented is more prone to falling off the boat. This can leave them vulnerable to drowning and additional injury from a sharp propeller, hidden rocks, or debris.
Another issue is that medical care may be delayed depending on how far the boat is from the shore, negatively impacting treatment outcomes. In any event, seeking prompt medical attention is paramount to protecting the integrity of your future claim, as well as your health. Prompt medical care is essential for your well-being and ensures you get the treatment you need.
A documented medical record of your injuries strengthens your case with the insurance company. It shows you acted promptly and helps establish the severity of your injuries. Delaying care can cast doubt on your claim. The insurance company might believe your injuries were minor or that you worsened them intentionally.
Damages in a Glendale Boating Accident Lawsuit
Depending on the severity of your boating accident injuries, you may have incurred considerable costs. Your Glendale boating accident lawyer will calculate the true value of your claim so that you can recover what you are rightfully owed. In a Glendale boating accident lawsuit, plaintiffs may seek compensation for damages like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Cost of boat repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death, for fatal Glendale boating accidents
How Our Glendale Boating Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Trying to heal from a boating accident injury, coordinating with insurance agents, juggling work and household responsibilities, and securing boat repairs is difficult enough without the added challenge of taking on a personal injury lawsuit by yourself. An effective Arizona boating accident claim requires a significant investment of time and resources, bolstered by knowledge of legal procedure, Arizona law, and the nature of boating accidents.
An Arizona personal injury lawyer will be qualified to handle the obstacles that frequently appear with boating accident claims. For example, gathering evidence to support your claim may prove to be more of a challenge, as there are fewer witnesses on the open water and less video surveillance to rely on. If your boating accident injuries were the result of third-party negligence, you can still benefit from a professional investigation managed by an experienced boating accident attorney.
Should any liability disputes arise, they will also be equipped to leverage the evidence they have analyzed to demonstrate the defendant’s negligence. Furthermore, a Glendale boating accident lawyer will be familiar with what damages you may qualify to claim and have the ability to determine their value. This is essential to recovering fair compensation for damages, as insurance companies want to limit the amount that they settle for to protect their profits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Glendale Boating Accident Claims
Boating safety courses are not required by Arizona law. Nor does the state require a Boating Education Certificate to rent a boat. This creates a high-risk situation where inexperienced operators are able to obtain access to boats without adequate training or knowledge of boating safety, increasing the risk of a Glendale boating accident.
After you have been seriously injured in a Glendale boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence, there is no reason to delay seeking the help of a personal injury attorney. That being said, you do not have to commit to the first boating accident attorney you speak with.
It is often advisable to take advantage of more than one free consultation with different personal injury law firms to determine if you have a viable case and if their team is capable of offering the legal support you need. Another factor to consider is the statute of limitations. In Arizona, you have two years to file a personal injury claim after you are injured, or else you will no longer be eligible to recover compensation for your damages.
Although boating is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, it can also be dangerous. Glendale boaters should take steps to protect themselves and their passengers, including stocking up on lifejackets, planning for the weather, ensuring their vessel is maintained and equipped with a fire extinguisher, and familiarizing themselves with a map of their destination in case of an emergency. Types of Glendale boating accidents include:
- Capsizing
- Drowning
- Slip and fall accidents
- Struck-by accidents
- Collisions with other boats
- Fires
- Electrocution
- Grounding
Contact Our Glendale Boating Accident Lawyers Today
Our team at Lerner and Rowe has built a nationwide personal injury law firm based on integrity, a strong work ethic, and a desire to rectify the damage done by negligent individuals or companies. We take great pride in advocating for our injured clients to secure fair settlements on their behalf because we understand how boating accident injuries can have a considerable impact on your health, career, finances, and quality of life.
Our team of seasoned Glendale boating accident lawyers will work closely with you to determine the best strategy for maximizing your compensation and provide the legal support you need throughout the personal injury claims process.
Schedule a free case evaluation today by calling us at 602-977-1900, filling out your free online form, or reaching out through LiveChat.