A boating accident attorney who can help seek the compensation you deserve.
There is no state in the U.S. that has more square miles of inland lakes than Texas. Add to that the coastline and there are many, many opportunities for boating. On a great day, boating is fun – but when an accident happens, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a boating accident, it is important to know your rights.
The parks and wildlife department will investigate your accident.
It is essential after a boating accident that you report it to the proper authorities. If the accident resulted in serious injury or death, then the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will typically investigate. This does not mean that you don’t need an attorney. You do, in fact, need an attorney who can represent your side of the case.
Requirements after a boating accident.
The Texas Park and Wildlife Code clearly lays out the responsibility of a boating operator after an accident. They are required to render assistance to others if they are able and, if it is necessary, required to exchange names, IDs and addresses with any person who was injured or had property damaged in the accident, and they must report the accident within 30 days. If the accident resulted in death, it must be reported within 48 hours.
Laws surrounding boat operation.
Inexperienced operators are often at fault for boat accidents. This is why it is required that anyone born after Sept. 1, 1993, must have mandatory boat operator education to operate a personal watercraft and some other boats. A child who is 12 and younger must wear a life jacket if the boat is less than 26 feet in length. Right-of-way laws are the same for boats as they are for cars.
Don’t become another statistic: Work with a boating accident attorney.
Many people are shocked to learn the truth about boating accidents. For example, there are more than 4,000 boating accidents each year, according to the Coast Guard, which are fatal for nearly 600 people. It all adds up to an average of $40 million in damages caused by boating accidents.
Boating accidents can take many forms, including collision with a fixed object, another vessel or a floating object (including swimmers). Fire, explosion, mishaps, capsizing and running aground are other examples of boating accidents. The Coast Guard reports that most accidents involve negligence on someone’s part. If this was the case in your boating accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your damages. Contact Greg Jackson Law at (817) 926-1003 to find out how we can help.
