Columbia Boat Accident Lawyer
The Stanley Law Group represents victims of boating accidents who have suffered injuries and family members of victims who lost their lives due to another party’s negligence. Whether you suffered a cracked rib, whiplash, or traumatic brain injury, you deserve to be fairly compensated by the responsible party. This can only be accomplished by working closely with an experienced Columbia boat accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group. Our lawyers can help you get the financial compensation needed to cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and you other many damages.
How Did the Accident Happen?
South Carolina ranks number three in the country when it comes to boat ownership by capita, according to Trip Savvy, and for good reason. Columbia, South Carolina is home to many beautiful, large, widely used bodies of water including Lake Murray and Broad River; these waterways are often shared by swimmers, jet skiers, fishing boats, stand up paddleboarders, motor boats, and wake boarders—all going different directions at different speeds. In order to avoid collisions, water vessel operators need to maintain a proper lookout, understand and follow the laws of the river or lake they are on, and only drive while sober. There were over 2,600 serious injuries and 658 boating fatalities in 2017, many of which were caused by drunk, careless, or reckless operators. Below are some of the most common types of boating accident injuries, according to the U.S. Coast Guard:
- Collision with recreational vessel;
- Collision with fixed object;
- Flooding/swamping;
- Grounding; and
- Falls overboard.
Boating accidents happen like any other reckless or careless motor vehicle collision on land: due to operator error. The top causes of collisions and accidents are:
- Operator inattention;
- Improper lookout;
- Operator inexperience;
- Machinery failure;
- Alcohol use;
- Excessive speed;
- Navigation rules violation;
- Weather;
- Hazardous waters; and
- Force of wave/wake.
Generally, the faster and larger a water vessel goes, the more dangerous it is to its occupants and specifically other waterway users. Kayakers, stand up paddle boarders, swimmers, and canoers obviously do not cause any injuries to other people on the water, while large, fast motorboats are the most dangerous vehicles on the lake or river. Fatalities ranked by type of water vessel include the following:
- Open motorboats;
- Personal watercraft such as jet skis;
- Cabin motorboats;
- Canoes or kayaks; and
- Pontoon boats.
Boat accidents must be investigated to determine the cause of the incident, just as land motor vehicle accidents are investigated. An attorney can help you get to the bottom of it, ensuring that the responsible party is held liable for your considerable damages.
The Stanley Law Group is Here to Help Columbia Boat Accident Victims
As a victim of a boating collision or accident, you deserve to be heavily compensated for your injuries and damages whether you were an occupant onboard a boat that was being operated by a negligent driver, or you were on a different vessel, or were a swimmer. Our Columbia boat accident attorneys at The Stanley Law Group are here to help. Contact us at 803-799-4700 to schedule a free consultation today.
