Boating accident attorneys in Virginia

Help from the experts

Thousands of people are injured or killed in recreational boating accidents every year in the United States. More than 4,100 U.S. boating accidents in 2015 cost 626 people their lives and injured 2,613 more, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

In Virginia alone, 70 boating accidents caused nine fatalities and 39 injuries.

Several factors can contribute to boating accidents, including weather, congested waterways, and equipment failure. However, many recreational boating accidents are caused by operator negligence.

If you have been hurt in a boating accident caused by someone else, you may be eligible to recover compensation for losses you have suffered. Contact GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation and learn more.

How do boating accidents happen?

With recreational boating, accidents and injuries happen in many ways. In 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard reported injuries and fatalities caused by the following factors:

• Capsizing
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Collisions with objects
• Collisions with other vessels
• Ejection from a vessel
• Electrocution
• Falls overboard
• Falls in the vessel
• Fires and explosions
• Flooding/swamping
• Grounding
• Skier mishaps
• Person struck by a propeller
• Person struck by a vessel

Collisions can occur with fixed objects, floating objects, submerged objects, other recreational vessels, commercial vessels, or government vessels. Collisions account for more boating accidents than any other cause.

What causes boating accidents?

Boating accidents can have many contributing factors, such as equipment failure, environmental factors, even the loading of passengers and gear. However, how the vessel is operated contributes the most to accidents, injuries, and fatalities by far. The following major factors contribute to boating accidents:

• Alcohol use
• Drug use
• Excessive speed
• Improper lookout
• Sharp turns
• Operator inexperience
• Operator inattention
• Navigation rules violations
• Inadequate onboard navigation lights

How can I recover compensation for boating accident injuries?

Boating accidents can cause serious injuries, including amputations, fractures, concussions, hypothermia, burns, dislocations, electric shock, spinal cord injury, internal organ injury, brain damage, or death. If you have been seriously hurt in a boating accident, you may have extensive medical expenses and be unable to work for a long period, along with the pain and suffering you must bear.

The best thing to do is to speak with a Virginia personal injury lawyer who has experience handling boating accident cases as soon as possible. You deserve to be compensated by the person who caused the accident.

Get help from our boating injury experts

Our Virginia water accident attorneys at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys have six decades of combined experience and a strong reputation for success in the courtroom. We are not afraid to fight aggressively for fair compensation at trial when necessary.

We handle cases on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid legal fees until we are successful and recover compensation for you. Our firm does not charge for consultations. Contact us or call us at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free (855) 781-6777 to discuss your boating accident injuries and find out what we can do to help.

Additional Information

• Who is responsible for boating accidents?
• What should you do after you’ve been in a boating accident?
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries