Youngstown Boat Accident Lawyer

Boat Accidents

The Mahoning River, Lake Erie, and the Ohio River offer fantastic opportunities for boating and water recreation. However, with warm weather comes a brief but busy boating season — and unfortunately, a rise in accidents and injuries.

In 2015, the Ohio Watercraft Division reported more than a dozen boating fatalities statewide. Many of these incidents were the result of negligent or inattentive boat operators. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident near Youngstown, reach out to an experienced Youngstown injury lawyer at Youngstown Criminal Law Group. Our legal team will carefully review your case and advise you on whether you may be entitled to compensation.

Common Causes of Boating Crashes

Ohio law requires boat operators to complete a boating education course, though no minimum age applies. Despite this requirement, many recreational boaters skip the course and operate their vessels without proper training — making inexperience one of the leading causes of on-water collisions.

Other common causes of boating crashes include:

• Distracted operators
• Careless passengers or water skiers
• Bad weather conditions
• Reckless operation
• Failure to yield
• Congested or hazardous waterways
• Speeding
• Operating under the influence of alcohol
• Exceeding maximum weight capacity

Even when you operate your vessel responsibly, the reckless behavior of others on the water can put everyone at risk. If someone else’s negligence contributed to your accident and injuries, a Youngstown auto accident attorney at Youngstown Criminal Law Group can help you understand your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for property damage, current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other related damages.

Boat Accident Injuries

According to data from the United States Coast Guard, the most commonly reported boating injury in 2014 was lacerations, followed closely by broken bones. Victims most often sustain injuries to the head, trunk, and legs.

Other injuries frequently seen in boating accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Hypothermia
• Concussion
• Internal injuries
• Dislocations
• Burns
• Shock
• Loss of limb or amputation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Electrocution

Drowning is also a tragic and all-too-common outcome. Approximately 78% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Notably, in 23% of those fatal incidents, the operator had received safe boating instruction. In Ohio in 2015, two fatalities involved victims who fell overboard, and another occurred when a boat capsized.

If you’ve suffered any of these injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, speaking with a Youngstown injury lawyer can help you determine your next steps.

Duty of Care

When a boat operator invites others onto their vessel, they take on a legal and moral responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety. A failure to follow safe boating practices — by the captain or any other vessel operator — significantly increases the risk of accidents and injuries.

Reasonable standards of care for vessel operators include:

• Providing sufficient life vests for all passengers
• Never operating the vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Ensuring the vessel is properly maintained before setting out
• Avoiding operation in dangerous weather conditions

Choosing to operate a boat during unsafe weather not only endangers passengers but may also be considered a breach of the operator’s duty of care.

If you believe a boat operator’s negligence caused your accident, an experienced Youngstown auto accident attorney at our group can help you pursue justice. With a strong track record of representing personal injury victims across Mahoning County and Ohio, our team is ready to advocate for your rights.

Reach Out to a Youngstown Boating Accident Attorney

The aftermath of a boating accident can be overwhelming. Between recovering from injuries and navigating complex legal processes, many victims simply don’t know where to turn. A qualified Youngstown injury lawyer from our law group can conduct a thorough investigation into your claim to determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit.

Our attorneys bring extensive resources and legal knowledge to every case. We can:

• Engage an accident reconstruction team to analyze the incident
• Obtain available video surveillance footage
• Collect witness statements
• Acquire the official accident report
• Handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf

You shouldn’t have to fight the insurance companies alone after being hurt through someone else’s recklessness. Let our team at Youngstown Criminal Law Group fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (330) 791-8104 to get started.