Columbus Boat Accident Attorney

When you go out on a boat, you will either be on your boat, another person’s private boat, or a boat owned by a company. If you have chartered a boat or if another person is operating it, there are many ways in which their negligence can cause major injuries. Some of those include:

• Hitting a big wave or wake at a high speed
• Choosing to operate in inclement weather
• Operating the boat at high speeds
• Failing to carry necessary safety equipment on board
• Colliding with other boats or fixed objects
• Overcrowding or overloading the boat
• Causing someone to come into contact with the propellers

Under no circumstances should a person operating a boat be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A person cannot have a blood alcohol level over .08% when they are operating a boat in Ohio.

Boat operators must also follow all state and federal maritime laws and regulations and should never operate with a willful disregard for the safety of people on board their boat and others around them.

Boat companies must ensure that their vessels are regularly inspected and maintained in order to prevent any kind of failure while the boat is in operation.

Boating incidents can cause serious injuries, including:

• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or amputations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Victims of boat crashes are often left with major medical bills as well as other hidden accident costs. If you are a boat crash victim, you may need to pursue a personal injury claim. If you work on a boat, you may be eligible for compensation through the Jones Act or the Longshore Workers’ Compensation Act.