Las Vegas Boat Accident Lawyer
Did you suffer severe injuries in a boat accident at Lake Mead, Lake Mojave, or another nearby body of water in Nevada?
You may have a valuable personal injury case.
Contact Las Vegas boat accident lawyer George T. Bochanis right away to protect your rights. Our law firm will help you recover compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At George T. Bochanis Injury Law Offices:
- We offer FREE case evaluations
- There are no upfront fees
- We’ve been protecting victims’ rights since 1985
- We’ve recovered millions on behalf of our clients
- You don’t pay unless we win
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Why Hire a Lawyer for Your Boat Accident Lawsuit?
As the victim of a boating accident, the last thing you need is to try handling your personal injury lawsuit on your own. Why?
- You’re already dealing with surgeons and/or other medical specialists to discuss your treatment plan and coordinate your care.
- You’re probably taking expensive prescription medications that are impacting your ability to think clearly.
- You can’t go back to work just yet, or maybe ever, and your finances are dwindling.
- The insurance company is going to try to take advantage of your need for immediate financial relief, and without an experienced boat accident attorney on your side, they’re probably going to be successful.
How Can Our Boat Accident Law Firm Help?
When you hire our law firm to handle your boat accident case, we’ll shoulder the legal stresses and financial burdens that accompany your injury claim or lawsuit, so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery. Our legal team will:
- Investigate your case, identifying the factors that contributed to your accident and the parties who should be held accountable
- Determine what insurance policies may be available to help pay for your losses
- Negotiate with the insurance company and/or other parties to maximize your recovery
- Present your case to the Judge and jury and fight for your rights in court if trial is necessary
Let Las Vegas boat accident lawyer George T. Bochanis make sure your rights are protected, and you recover maximum compensation for your losses. Call (702) 388-2005.
What to Do After a Boat Accident
The immediate aftermath of a boat accident can be chaotic. Here’s a guide on what to do:
- Ensure Safety: The top priority is ensuring everyone’s safety. Check for injuries and call for help immediately if needed. Use flares, a VHF radio, or a cell phone if there’s signal.
- Secure the Vessel: If possible, try to stop any further damage by anchoring the boat or steering it to shore. Turn off the engine to prevent fuel leaks or fire hazards.
- Gather Information: If possible, exchange contact and insurance information with any other boaters involved. Document the scene with photos or videos of damage to your vessel and any other boats.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get everyone checked by a medical professional. Injuries sustained on water can worsen quickly.
- Report the Accident: Report the accident to the appropriate authorities, such as the Coast Guard or local law enforcement. This is crucial, especially if there are injuries or significant property damage.
- Contact an Attorney: Consulting with a boating accident lawyer experienced in your area can help navigate the legal complexities of your case and ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries or damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable in Boating Accident Cases?
In a boating accident, determining who is liable can be difficult because so many factors are usually involved. It’s not uncommon for multiple parties to be defendants in injury claims and lawsuits.
Here’s a breakdown of some common parties who may be held responsible for boat accident injuries in Las Vegas:
The Boat Operator
The operator has a primary responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone onboard. This includes operating the boat at a safe speed, following navigation rules, and ensuring passengers have proper life jackets. If their negligence (like intoxication, distraction, or reckless maneuvers) causes an accident, boat operators can be liable.
Boat Owner
While not always operating the boat, the owner may still share some responsibility for accidents. This could be due to faulty equipment the owner failed to maintain, overloading the boat with too many passengers, or knowingly allowing an intoxicated person to operate the vessel.
Other Vessel Operators
If multiple boats are involved in a collision, the actions of any operator who violated boating laws or acted negligently can lead to liability. This is common in scenarios where two or more boats are racing, or when boat operators are performing stunts near other vessels.
Rental Companies
Boat rental companies have a duty to ensure their vessels are water-worthy and provide proper safety instructions. If a malfunctioning rental boat contributes to the accident, the company might be held liable.
Passengers
In rare instances, a passenger’s behavior may contribute to a boating accident. For example, if a passenger distracts the operator or disobeys safety instructions, that person may share some fault for the accident victim’s injuries.
Manufacturers
Defective boat parts or design flaws can also lead to boating accidents. In such cases, the manufacturer may be held liable for damages.
This is not an exhaustive list. Call (702) 388-2005 for a FREE case evaluation. We’ll investigate your accident and the events that led up to it to determine who is liable in your personal injury case.
What Are Common Causes of Boat Accidents?
Boating accidents have been on the rise in recent years. In 2020, there were 5,265 reported boat accidents that involved 3,191 injuries and 767 fatalities. That’s a 26.3% increase in accidents, a 24.7% increase in injuries, and a 25.1% increase in deaths since 2019.
Here’s a breakdown of common causes of boat accidents, according to the United States Coast Guard’s 2020 Recreational Boating Statistics Report.
Operator Inattention
The primary cause of 664 boating accidents that resulted in 55 deaths in 2020, operator inattention can include distractions like using a phone, changing the radio, or talking to passengers, as well as fatigue or lack of awareness of surroundings.
Improper Lookout
Not having a designated lookout or an operator failing to maintain a proper lookout for hazards like other vessels, obstacles, or sudden weather changes significantly increases the risk of accidents. In 2020, improper lookout was the primary contributing factor in 578 boat accidents, resulting in 28 fatalities.
Operator Inexperience
Skippers without proper training or knowledge of boating regulations are more likely to make mistakes that lead to collisions or groundings. In 2020, operator inexperience was the primary contributing factor in 612 boating accidents that caused 56 deaths.
Excessive Speed
Just like on the road, exceeding safe speeds on the water can limit reaction time and increase the severity of accidents. In 2020, excessive speed was the primary contributing factor in 418 watercraft accidents that caused 32 fatalities.
Alcohol Use
Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is just as dangerous as driving a car or truck under the influence. The Coast Guard report found that alcohol use was the leading factor in fatal boating accidents in 2020. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction time on the water.
Types of Boat Accidents Our Law Firm Handles
Our law firm handles all types of boating accidents that result in injuries and fatalities in Nevada. These include, but are not limited to:
- Boat collisions with people, other vessels, or objects
- Falls in and out of vessels
- Propeller accidents
- Carbon monoxide exposures
- Electrocutions
- Diving and skiing accidents
- Jet ski accidents
Common Injuries in Boat Accidents
As a personal injury lawyer with over 30 years of experience representing accident victims in Nevada, I can tell you that people who are involved in serious boating accidents rarely just walk away unscathed. Most accident victims face months or years needing ongoing medical care, physical therapy, surgeries, and more. Even if their physical injuries are seemingly minor, such a traumatic experience often leaves people with severe anxiety and PTSD.
The most common types of boating injuries that give rise to accident claims and lawsuits include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Amputations
- Neck Injuries
- Paralysis
- Crushing Injuries
- Severe Burns
- Near-Drowning Injuries
- Wrongful Death
How Much Is Your Boat Accident Case Worth?
The value of your boat accident case will depend on the severity of your injuries and the losses you suffered, and the insurance policies or other sources of recovery that are available. In most cases, injured victims will be entitled to recover economic damages and noneconomic damages. Punitive damages may also be available in rare situations.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that are tied to a monetary loss. Examples include medical expenses, lost wages, the cost of medications, and other financial losses.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages are subjective, so their value can vary substantially from victim to victim. Examples include physical pain, psychological trauma, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive Damages
Although they are awarded to the plaintiff, punitive damages are not intended to make the accident victim whole. Instead, they are intended to punish the wrongdoer.
Meet Las Vegas Boat Accident Lawyer George T. Bochanis
- Super Lawyer
- Multi-Million Advocate Dollar Advocates Forum
- Martindale-Hubbell
- AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
I have been dealing with George T. Bochanis for the past year and a half regarding a case & I have got to say each and every associate that worked on my case went above and beyond to ensure that this worked on my behalf. Special s/o to Alex in the law office, he definitely went above and beyond the call of duty for me. Thank you isn’t enough. I appreciate all of you!
FAQs About Boat Accidents in Las Vegas
A two-year statute of limitations applies to most boat accident lawsuits in Nevada. The time limit that applies to your case may be shorter or longer, however. Boat accident lawyer George Bochanis can evaluate your case to ensure you take legal action before time runs out.
If the boat you were on lacked the proper safety gear, or the equipment was defective, you may have multiple routes to financial recovery. You may be able to sue the boat owner, a rental company, or an equipment manufacturer.
If your boat accident resulted in injuries that required more than first aid, the death or disappearance of a person, or property damage over $2,000, you’ll need to report the incident to the Nevada Department of Wildlife within 48 hours. Accidents that cause severe injury, death, or the disappearance of someone need to be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard immediately.