Our office has handled many claims over the years and we are very familiar with the rights and responsibilities of watercraft operators.
Boating on the Columbia River, Lake Merwin, Lacamas Lake or other bodies of water in and around Vancouver, Washington can end in tragedy. These waterway accidents can result in serious and deadly injuries.
At NW Injury Law Center, our personal injury lawyers in Vancouver have spent more than 35 years representing boating accident victims and their families in Washington. Our law firm understands the complexities of these cases. Find out how we can help you during a free consultation.
Why Clients in Vancouver Trust NW Injury Law Center
- You will always be put first. Your boating accident attorney in Vancouver will provide individualized care and attention that makes you feel seen and heard.
- We are highly experienced boat accident lawyers in the Pacific Northwest. We have a long track record of getting real results for our clients when it matters the most.
- Our Vancouver boating accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t be billed any attorney’s fees unless we win your case.
How a Boat Accident Attorney in Vancouver Can Help
An experienced boat accident lawyer in Vancouver can conduct a comprehensive investigation of your boating accident to determine who is at fault. From there, your lawyer can gather evidence to support your injury claim and take over communications with insurance companies on your behalf to negotiate a fair settlement. A lawyer will protect your best interests and fight for maximum compensation while you focus on healing from your boat accident injuries.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Vancouver
Boating accidents can describe collisions with other boats or vessels, a boat crashing into a fixed object such as a dock, boats capsizing or sinking, boat fires and explosions, and boats running aground. A boat accident can also refer to a harmful incident onboard a watercraft, such as a slip and fall or electrocution.
Harmful boat accidents can arise from various issues, such as:
- Careless or reckless boat operation
- Violated Vancouver boating laws
- Operating under the influence
- Speeding or loss of boat control
- Operator distraction or inattention
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Overloaded boat
- Boat equipment failure or poor maintenance
- Failure to check waterway and weather conditions
- Lack of emergency preparedness
Most of these problems are preventable. If someone was negligent, or failed to act with proper care, this party could be held liable (financially responsible) for a related boating accident and your injuries and losses.
Vancouver Boating Laws
The driver of a speed boat or other motorized water vessel can do a great deal of damage and injury to property or people if they don’t follow the rules of the waterways. Boating laws require all operators of watercraft to educate themselves on the rules and require those under a certain age to obtain an operating certificate. The certificate is proof of their understanding of the rules and that they passed a minimum competency exam before getting on the water.
Unfortunately, boater certificate or not, some people do stupid things on the water. Consuming alcohol in excess is an example. One fact that proves true every fair-weathered holiday is that people think alcohol and boating go together. In Washington, boating under the influence is against the law, as is operating a vessel in a “reckless manner.” When this happens and someone is injured, an experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted.
Liability for a Boat Accident in Vancouver
Liability for a boating accident in Washington will depend on the circumstances, including the cause of the incident and the applicable maritime laws. Maritime laws are federal and state rules that govern all navigable waterways in Vancouver.
Depending on the situation, the following parties could be held responsible for a boat accident:
- Boat owner
- Boat operator
- Maintenance crew
- Boat tour company
- Contractor or subcontractor
- Vessel or part manufacturer
- The government responsible for the waterway
A lawyer from NW Injury Law Center can help you identify the liable party or parties in your case. Then, we can gather evidence of fault, such as incident reports, witness statements, expert testimony, photographs and videos, the operator’s certifications and crash history, and boat maintenance records.
Contact Our Vancouver Boating Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you are injured as a result of a boater’s carelessness, put our experience to work for you. Our local attorneys understand the laws behind boating accidents and how to achieve the case results our clients need to move forward. We can represent you in and out of court.
Please call NW Injury Law Center at (360) 695-1624 if you have any questions or would like to speak with us regarding a boating accident or injury. We offer free, no-pressure consultations.