Hudson Valley lakes and rivers provide lots of opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy boating, fishing, waterskiing, and jet-skiing. Unfortunately, however, when people are having fun, they are often less responsible when it comes to protecting themselves and others from dangerous situations. The attorneys at Basch & Keegan LLP handle claims arising from boating accidents and injuries in Upstate NY and Ulster County.
Contact our Kingston boating accident lawyers today at (845) 251-4545 to schedule a free consultation.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, water-related accidents and injuries arise from a wide range of circumstances. Boats can capsize, sink, or flood. People can fall overboard. A boat may collide with another vessel or strike a submerged object. There is even the risk of fire, explosion, carbon monoxide poisoning, and electrocution if a boat is not properly maintained. When you think about it — a boat is really no place to be careless.
Upon investigation, however, we often find that the following factors contribute to boating injuries and accidents:
Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol (drunk boating)
Operator inattention or error
Operator inexperience
Lack of a proper lookout
Speeding
Reckless driving
Failure to watch out for skiers, tubers, and swimmers
Having too many people on board
Failing to carry safety equipment on board
As you can see, many boating accidents are most likely preventable if people act responsibly and use a little common sense. At Basch & Keegan LLP, we work to hold boat operators and passengers responsible for negligent and reckless behavior that causes accidents.
If you have been involved in a boating accident, there are several steps that you should take to ensure that your rights remain protected and that you recover the compensation that you deserve.
Immediately following a boating accident of any kind, remember to:
Call for emergency medical assistance if people have been injured
Ensure you and others are moved to a place of safety
Get in contact with the Coast Guard to report the accident
Take photos and preserve as much other evidence of the accident as possible
Seek medical attention for any injuries you have incurred, no matter how minor they may seem
Never speak with an insurance company prior to speaking with an injury law firm
Consult with our personal injury lawyers at Basch & Keegan LLP to discover the right path forward
Drowning is the most significant risk in cases of boating accidents. A boating accident can result in other potentially life-threatening injuries such as carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Bruises, fractures, and lacerations can be less severe, but can still cause significant damage and distress to injury victims.
The attorneys at Basch & Keegan LLP have extensive experience handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. However, even if your boating injury is less severe, we still take your claim very seriously. As an accident victim, you deserve fair compensation for your damages.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident or sustained a boating injury, contact the personal injury lawyers at Basch & Keegan LLP today for a free initial consultation. We work hard to help accident victims receive fair compensation — putting all of our knowledge and resources behind every case we handle. If you are recovering from an injury, we can come to your home or hospital room.
Call (845) 251-4545 today to discuss your case with our Kingston boating accident attorneys and find out how much your claim could be worth.
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