Seattle Boat Accident Attorney

One of our knowledgeable Seattle boat accident attorneys is standing by to walk you through the difficult steps involved in receiving financial compensation from the at-fault party following a boating or watercraft accident. Call The Fang Law Firm today at (206) 489-5140 for a free case consultation.

As the weather gets hotter, you will find many Seattle residents enjoying a weekend on the Puget Sound. Boats are everywhere pulling friends and family members on tubes and water skis; jet skis fly by at top speeds. With an increase in boat traffic comes an increase in boating and watercraft accidents. These injuries are often unexpected and life-changing.

Why Choose Our Seattle Boat Accident Lawyers?

• Ready to help. We’re available 365 days a year; our boating accident attorneys will return any call in 24 hours.
• Poised to win. We have a 98 percent win rate across 10,000 cases.
• Lending a hand. Our injury attorneys in Seattle will work on your case until the very end; we won’t hand you off to our support staff like other Seattle law firms.

How a Boating and Watercraft Accident Attorney Can Help

You may be stuck with a costly medical bill or lifelong injuries after sustaining a boating or watercraft related injury. A boating injury attorney can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve from the at-fault party. Washington does not require that personal boat and watercraft operators carry insurance.

Proving a Boating Accident Claim

To recover financial compensation from an at-fault boat owner, you will need to establish the at-fault party was negligent. To prove a negligence claim, you will have to establish the following in a court of law:

• The boat owner or operator had a duty
• The boat owner or operator breached that duty
• The boat owner or operator’s breach of that duty was the proximate cause of your injury
• The injury resulted in damages.

A skilled boating and watercraft accident attorney in Seattle can help gather evidence to support each element of your negligence claim.

What to Do After a Boat Accident

Washington has codified (or written into law) the steps required of a boat operator after an accident has occurred. The vessel must stop immediately at the site of the accident. A report must be filed with the Washington State Parks and Recreation services if any of the following occur:

• Death
• An injury that needs medical attention
• A person disappears
• The vessel sinks
• Property damage above $2,000.

If a death, injury, or disappearance occurs, the boat owner must file the report within 48 hours. For property damage and other injuries, the boat owner must submit the report within 10 days. If the boat owner does not submit a report as required by law, the boat owner is entirely at-fault for the accident.

Common Causes of Boating Accidents

Boating accidents can occur for any number of reasons, but the most common causes of boating accidents don’t involve weather.

• Impaired boat driver: Boat accidents can occur from excessive alcohol intake or drug use.
• Inexperience: A boat driver that is unfamiliar with how to drive a boat may not be able to spot hazards or dangerous situations.
• Speed: A boat traveling at excessive speeds will take longer to slow down; no matter how knowledgeable its captain is, the laws of gravity and force apply even on the water.
• Improper navigation: If a boat captain is unfamiliar with navigational guidance, they may crash into other boats causing serious property damage and severe injury.

Contact a Seattle Boat Accident Attorney Now

The attorneys at The Fang Law Firm are well versed in Washington negligence actions. We are standing by to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve. Our accident attorneys in Seattle understand that recovering from an injury is stressful enough, we’ll work hard to get you the financial compensation you deserve so you won’t have to worry about anything but recovery. Call us today at (206) 489-5140 for a free case consultation.