Boating accidents involving open motorboats, personal watercrafts (PWCs) or cabin motorboats are commonly reported cases. Accidents may happen due to collisions with fixed objects or moving vessels, capsizing or sinking, fire or explosion, falls or ejection overboard and other circumstances. Often, negligence resulting from operator inattention is foremost contributing factor in a case of accidents on boats, according to Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) system. Boat operator’s carelessness or recklessness and operator’s inexperience or excessive speed follows in frequency are also causes of these types of accidents.

Physical harm to a person caused by a boating accident case must be filed with proper authorities within 48 hours that accident happened. On other hand, if only vessel or property damage were caused by boating accident case, case can be filed ten days from occurrence.

If you or someone you know have been injured in a boating accident case and operator negligence is involved, you may be eligible to file a claim or a lawsuit to seek compensation for damages including injuries, medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property or vessel damages. This may compensate your could-have-been good day at sea, but again maybe any amount wouldn’t. Sad events, these types of accidents.

Much like other accidents, it is imperative that you follow certain procedures to protect yourself from possible trouble. For one, seeking assistance of a doctor is very important to determine your level of injury and if you might have sustained other debilitating injuries that might have long term effects.

Gather pertinent information as much as you can regarding your accident like names and addresses as well as contact numbers.

Do not divulge any information to anyone other law enforcement officials or a lawyer. Anything that you say might be used against you in a court of law. Also, do not sign anything without assistance of an attorney. You might think that it is a smart thing to do but refrain from doing so. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Hiring an attorney is highly recommended for situations like this as they can help you obtain what is due to you and save you from any legal and financial hassle.