In many ways, getting in an accident while onboard a maritime vessel can be even more dangerous than being involved in one while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. The lack of safety features like airbags and the ever-present risk of drowning make boating relatively risky. Even if you take all possible steps to protect yourself and be safe, you cannot always predict or prevent the negligent acts of others.
If you were injured in a watercraft incident caused by someone else, you deserve fair compensation for your losses. With a Milton boat accident lawyer on your side, you could take legal action and pursue the payments you need. Our skilled injury attorneys at Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. are ready to get to work for you.
What to Do Immediately After a Serious Boating Accident
Much like how people involved in serious auto accidents are required by law to contact law enforcement and render aid to other involved parties, boat accident victims must report their accidents to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boating and Recreational Vehicle Safety Bureau if any of the following conditions apply:
- The incident resulted in $500 or more of property damage
- Someone involved in the incident suffered an injury requiring professional medical attention
- The incident directly resulted in someone’s disappearance under circumstances suggesting they may have been seriously injured or killed
- The incident directly resulted in someone’s premature death
The deadline for filing this report is generally five days after the incident occurred unless there was a serious injury or death resulting from it, in which case the deadline is 48 hours after the initial incident. A Milton boat accident attorney could provide crucial help complying with these and other legal requirements following an accident on the water. Seasoned legal professionals know how to collect the necessary evidence, such as witness testimony, photos and videos of the accident site, medical documentation, and input from accident reconstruction experts to incorporate into a potential civil claim.
Possible Obstacles to Effective Civil Recovery
Anyone proven to have caused a boat accident specifically by engaging in reckless, careless, or illegal conduct while operating their own vessel or mechanically servicing someone else’s could hold civil liability for every past and future loss that the accident directly results in. By the same token, though, people injured in boating accidents may be assigned a share of “comparative fault” if they were irresponsible in a way that contributed to causing their injuries. When an injured person is partially responsible for an accident, the court may reduce the total compensation available to them or even bar them from recovery altogether based on the amount of total fault they hold, as allowed under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231, § 85.
Additionally, Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, § 2A generally allows a maximum of three years after an accident occurs for any subsequently injured person to file suit over it. This time period can pass quickly while dealing with medical expenses and other effects of a traumatic injury, so contacting a boat injury lawyer in Milton sooner rather than later can be critical to preserving an injured individual’s legal rights.
Consider Working with a Milton Boat Accident Attorney
Accidents on the water can serve as the basis for substantial financial recovery. However, if you press forward with a lawsuit without first seeking help from experienced legal counsel, you may have trouble getting any financial restitution at all, let alone enough to cover all your past and future accident-related losses.
Speaking with a Milton boat accident lawyer could be an essential first step down the road to effective recovery. Call today to set up your free initial consultation.
