The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports that there were 175 reports of boating incidents in 2023. In total, 28 people lost their lives, and 76 were injured during that time period.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a boating accident, you may be able to take legal action. If you can prove the boat operator was negligent, you should be able to recover compensation for losses resulting from their carelessness. It can sometimes be hard to demonstrate this negligence, though, as injuries often occur on open water where there aren’t many witnesses and where collecting evidence is complicated.
You need an experienced and dedicated Austin boating accident attorney on your side to help you make your boat accident claim. George Salinas Injury Lawyers can be your advocate. Our firm fights for injured victims, and we have helped our clients recover millions in compensation.
Give us a call or contact us today at (210) 225-0909 to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the most common causes of boating accidents include:
- Boat operators not paying attention
- Failure to look out properly
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Speeding while driving a boat
- Driving a boat while impaired by alcohol
Many of these causes of accidents are entirely preventable. If a boat operator fails to exercise reasonable care while piloting their watercraft, they can be held accountable by passengers on the boat, as well as by others on the waterways who were hurt or who had their property damaged.
Boat operators could also be held responsible for the consequences of other failures, such as a failure to maintain their boat properly or to have enough personal safety equipment such as life jackets on board.
Taking Legal Action After a Boating Accident
Texas Code Section 33.001 allows you to pursue a claim for compensation after a boating accident as long as the person you are making the claim against was at least 51% responsible for causing the incident to occur.
You’ll need to show the boat operator was negligent. You can do this by demonstrating they were unreasonably careless compared with a hypothetical boat operator. You can also prove negligence by demonstrating a violation of boating safety rules such as Texas Code Section 49.06, which prohibits operating a boat while intoxicated.
It’s important to act quickly to take legal action, as you have just two years to do so under
Texas Code Section 16.003. If you can successfully make your case, the boat operator should compensate you for economic and non-financial loss, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical bills, and lost wages.
Getting Help from An Austin Boating Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love was hurt in a boat accident, you should reach out to George Salinas Injury Lawyers as soon as possible. Our skilled and experienced Austin personal injury attorney will help you gather the evidence you need to prove your claim and will fight for your rights throughout your case. Give us a call at (210) 225-0909 to learn more about how we can help you.