Maine boasts a vast coastline and thousands of lakes and ponds, making it an ideal location for recreational boating. While there are many reasons to love it, the popularity of boating contributes to the number of accidents caused by negligence. Many behaviors can quickly turn tragic, and the most typical cause of severe water vessel accidents in Maine is operator error. Contact our knowledgeable York boat accident lawyer for more information.
A talented personal injury lawyer from our firm can investigate the crash, determine liability, and pursue monetary damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Incidents on the waterways often boil down to entirely preventable errors of the boaters or passengers, and some of the most typical causes include:
The incidents often involve more than one common cause, such as failing to pay attention while traveling at excessive speeds. A York boat accident attorney could investigate to determine the cause and collect the essential evidence.
All watercraft operators in the state must understand the waterway rules, which fall within three groups.
Everyone born after January 1, 1999, must complete an approved boater safety and education course to operate personal watercraft or motorized vessels with more than 25 horsepower. After completion, they must carry the boater education card on board with them whenever operating a vessel. It is unlawful for someone under 16 to operate a personal watercraft alone.
Every person aboard the vessel must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitting, and serviceable life jacket, and minors under ten must wear it at all times. The Maine Warden Service highly recommends that the operator and passengers wear them at all times, even if it is not a legal requirement.
All watercraft owners must register their boats with the state before operating them on the water. Operators must operate at slow speed whenever within the marina or water safety zone and avoid hazardous wakes and activities, such as surfing, when they are 300 feet from the shore or the water is 15 feet deep. Impaired boating from alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited and can lead to criminal prosecution.
State laws govern crashes on the waterways similarly to car crashes, and allow you to sue the negligent party. Monetary damages may include medical bills, ongoing healthcare services, pain and suffering, and property damage. The case must establish for the court that the elements of liability are present.
Those include the fact that the defendant had a legal duty to act reasonably safely and failed to do so. The claim must also show a direct link between their actions and the harm sustained by the plaintiff. Lastly, there must be evidence of verifiable damages, such as hospital records and medical bills.
Civil law sets a deadline on the time people injured in boat crashes have to initiate legal action to recover monetary damages. Under Maine Revised Statutes § 752, you must file the claim within six years of the date of the watercraft incident and cause of legal action.
When families seek compensation for wrongful death, they have three years. Our boat accident lawyers in York could do the legal work and ensure compliance with the guidelines.
When a boater or someone else on the water is negligent, the consequences can be life-threatening. Therefore, you must hold them responsible.
Meet with our proficient York Boat accident lawyer to learn more. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.
207-363-5208
207-363-5208