While boating opportunities are few and far between in the aptly named “Grand Canyon State,” Arizona does still have a few navigable waterways within its borders which are large enough for both unpowered and powered watercraft. With any navigable waterway, though, comes boaters who are less than adept at navigating their vessels safely through it, and that combination sometimes leads to accidents with long-lasting and potentially even life-threatening repercussions.
If someone else’s negligence led to you getting seriously hurt out on the water, you have help available from an experienced Avondale boat accident lawyer in holding that irresponsible person accountable for your losses. Whether you have suffered life-altering trauma or just need help dealing with short-term expenses, your tenacious personal injury attorney could provide the custom-tailored guidance you need to demand every cent of restitution you deserve.
What to Do After a Boating Accident
Much like it does with auto accidents, Arizona state law imposes specific reporting requirements on people involved in collisions between watercraft within navigable waterways. First and foremost, everyone involved in the incident must stop their vessels, assist anyone injured in the incident to the fullest extent they can safely do so, and exchange contact information—if applicable, for both the operator and owner of the vessel(s) involved—to everyone else caught up in the collision.
Then, if the accident resulted in more than $500 of property damage or any injury needing professional care beyond basic first aid, all involved boat operators must submit a written accident report to the state Game and Fish Department within five days of the accident, or within 48 hours if there was a disappearance or fatality. Anyone with questions about exactly what state law expects of them after this sort of incident can get more specific information by speaking with a skilled Avondale boat accident attorney.
Demanding Fair Recovery While Avoiding Comparative Fault
The existence of reporting requirements is far from the only similarity that boating accident claims share with car crash litigation in Arizona. For the most part, negligence is also defined the same way—namely, as a reckless or careless “breach” of the duty all operators have to act lawfully and safely at all times—and anyone found liable for a boat-related injury based on “negligence” can be made to pay for all ensuing losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment/quality of life
- Emotional anguish and psychological trauma
- Lost working capacity and/or work income and benefits
- Vessel repair/replacement costs and other personal property damage
However, anyone injured in a boat accident who a court finds was “negligent” in some way leading up to the incident may have a percentage of “comparative fault” assigned to them, which in turn would result in their final damage award’s value being reduced in proportion to that percentage. This is one of many legal obstacles that a dependable boat injury lawyer in Avondale could work to help an injured person avoid.
Work With an Avondale Boat Accident Attorney
Getting injured while operating or on board a boat may be rare in Arizona, but it still happens sometimes and can still cause extremely serious losses. If you have been hurt in this sort of incident recently, you have limited time to build a civil claim against the person responsible for harming you and demand compensation for your ensuing damage—but fortunately, you do not have to do it alone.
An Avondale boat accident lawyer could be your steadfast ally from beginning to end of your legal proceedings, working diligently to get you the best possible case result. Call today to learn more.
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