Boat Accident Attorney in Birmingham

boating kids

While car accidents are more common, boating accidents can be just as, if not more, dangerous for victims. If you suffered a boat accident injury in Birmingham, Alabama, you need an experienced boat accident attorney on your side.

Birmingham boat accident lawyer April H. Collins of Collins Law, LLC can assist you with all aspects of your case, from investigating the incident to representing you at trial. She also knows how to improve your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries thanks to their knowledge of Alabama boating laws and experience with the state’s legal system.

If you need legal representation after a boating accident, contact Attorney Collins for a free consultation. She and her team at Collins Law use their experience, knowledge, integrity, honesty, empathy, and compassion to provide injury victims with the comprehensive legal support they need to seek the compensation they deserve.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Birmingham, AL Boat Accident Attorney?

Hiring a Birmingham boat accident attorney has many benefits, including the attorney’s local knowledge. An attorney who understands the area and is familiar with the Jefferson County court’s procedures is equipped to handle boat accident cases in the community.

In addition to having local knowledge, Attorney Collins and her team benefit injury victims by:

  • Working to reduce their clients’ accident-related medical bills once their cases are resolved
  • Striving to help accident victims keep more of the compensation they win in a settlement or verdict — and never taking more money than their clients would
  • Empowering accident victims who feel marginalized by providing dedicated representation and seeking the compensation they need
  • Providing compassionate support for accident victims and their families

What Should You Do if You Are Involved in a Boating Accident?

If you are in a boating accident in Birmingham, there are specific steps you should take to protect your right to seek compensation through a boat accident claim. These steps include:

  • Seek Medical Treatment – Even if you don’t think you’ve been injured, get a medical evaluation shortly after the accident. Then, follow up with your medical treatment until you recover from your injuries or your doctor informs you that further treatment will not improve your condition. This continued treatment is essential for improving your health and shows that you took your injuries seriously. Stopping your treatment early may result in the insurance company arguing that your injuries weren’t as severe as you claimed.
  • Keep Your Medical Invoices – Keep track of all medical bills and invoices you receive relating to your boat accident injury. Your attorney will use these bills when calculating your accident-related losses. If you didn’t receive an invoice for a medical treatment, you can ask your healthcare provider to issue one for your records.
  • Record Your Memory of the Accident – While the details of the accident are still fresh in your mind, write them down in a journal. A fully litigated boat accident lawsuit can take a year or more to conclude, so these notes will prevent you from mistakenly contradicting your earlier statements.
  • Avoid Making Statements About the Incident – After the incident, insurance adjusters may approach you seeking a statement. They’re trying to get you to say something they can use to reduce the value of your boat accident compensation or that will invalidate your lawsuit altogether. An experienced attorney will coach you through what to say to the insurance adjusters to protect your right to seek compensation.
  • Contact a Boat Accident Lawyer – Consulting an experienced boat accident law firm is one of the best ways to increase your odds of getting an appropriate settlement or trial award. Your lawyer will investigate the incident, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you at trial, seeking the maximum compensation you deserve.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Boat Accident?

Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties could be liable for a boat accident. Some of these parties include:

  • Boat Operators – The person driving the boat you were a passenger on or the boat that struck you could be liable for your injuries if their negligent actions caused the accident.
  • Boat Owners – The owner of the boat you were a passenger on or the boat that struck you could be liable for your injuries. In some cases, the boat’s owner may be different than the boat’s operator.
  • Boat Rental Companies – A boat rental company could be liable for your injuries if its poor boat maintenance led to the accident or if it rented the boat to someone not qualified to operate it.
  • Boat Manufacturers – The boat manufacturer could be liable if a defective part caused the accident. Other manufacturers, such as safety equipment manufacturers, could also be liable if their products failed and contributed to your injuries.

When you hire a boat accident lawyer like Attorney Collins, part of their job is identifying all liable parties. In some cases, multiple parties, such as a boat operator and boat owner, could be liable if they both contributed to the accident.

Boat accident victims can recover compensation for the following:

  • Medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, medical treatments, medical devices, physical therapy, and prescription medications
  • Wages you lost as a result of taking time off to recover from your injuries
  • The impact of your injuries on your future earning potential
  • The pain and suffering you experience because of your injuries
  • Funeral and burial costs if you filed a wrongful death claim after the death of a family member
  • The cost of repairing or replacing damaged or lost property, including your boat or other personal items

Alabama has several boating laws that may apply to your injury lawsuit, including:

  • Boating Under the Influence – It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of an intoxicating substance or with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.
  • Life Jacket Requirements – Boats must have enough life jackets or floatation devices for all passengers on board.
  • Right-of-Way Rules – Boats must stay to the right when passing oncoming traffic, and motorboats must yield the right of way to non-motorized boats.
  • Navigation Light Requirements – Boats must have navigation lights if operated at night or in limited visibility conditions.

If the person responsible for your injuries violated any of these boating laws, your attorney may be able to use that fact to help prove liability. You will need additional evidence, such as physical evidence, video footage, or eyewitness statements, to support your claim.

Some of the most common causes of boating accidents on Alabama waters include:

  • Reckless Operation – When boat operators speed or engage in other reckless behavior, they increase the chances of a collision by reducing the time they have to react to hazards on the water.
  • Operating Under the Influence – Boating under the influence is just as dangerous as driving a car under the influence. Additionally, passengers who are under the influence are more likely to drown if they fall overboard.
  • Dangerous Weather – Failure to recognize dangerous weather can lead to boating accidents, especially when inexperienced operators are behind the wheel.
  • Distracted Operators – Distractions while driving a boat, such as texting and interacting with passengers, can lead to collisions.
  • Inexperienced Operators – Just because someone has a driver’s license doesn’t mean they’re qualified to operate a boat on their own. Boats have longer stopping distances than cars, and an inexperienced operator can make mistakes that lead to collisions.
  • Defective Products – Defective boat parts, such as stuck rudders or damaged motors, can lead to collisions if they prevent the boat from avoiding hazards like other boats, swimmers, or docks.

Some of the most common injuries victims of boating accidents sustain include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull after an impact to the head or when a foreign object pierces the brain. They can range from mild concussions to severe injuries causing physical and cognitive impairment.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries – Boat collisions can result in pinching or severing of the spinal cord and leading to temporary or permanent paralysis.
  • Drowning – Boat accidents can lead to drowning, especially if alcohol is involved or the boat doesn’t have the proper safety equipment on board.
  • Internal Injuries – Blunt force trauma can cause internal injuries that may not be immediately apparent.
  • Broken Bones – The force of a collision can cause broken bones that take months to heal.
  • Lacerations – If a boat strikes you while you are in the water, it can cause severe lacerations.
  • Hypothermia – A boat accident that causes you to fall into the water can result in hypothermia.

Contact a Boat Accident Lawyer in Birmingham, AL Today

Were you injured in a boat accident near Birmingham, Alabama? Contact Collins Law for a free, no-obligation consultation with Attorney Collins and her compassionate team. During your initial consultation, they’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and walk you through the boat accident claim process.

Get the strong legal advocacy you deserve on your side by reaching out to Collins Law today.