Boating and Water Sports Accidents | Personal Injury Trial Law

While boating and other water sports are fun pastimes, we often forget the harm these activities can and do cause. According to the U.S. Coastguard, there are thousands of fatalities each year from boating and recreational water activity accidents, and 90% of all boating fatalities occur on boats where operators have no formal safety instruction. The U.S. Coastguard also states that the top five contributing factors of these accidents include c areless/reckless operation, operator inattention, no proper lookout, operator inexperience, and passenger/skier behavior. Additionally, alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.

There are different laws that apply to these types of accidents, including state laws, U.S. federal laws, and international maritime and admiralty laws. In addition, various laws are applicable to different types of boating and water sports accidents, including:

These laws include different rules relating to how fault is determined for the accident, which in turn affects how the accident is investigated as well as how the case is prosecuted. As a result, an attorney who is experienced in handling boating and other water sports accident cases knows how to select among the laws to produce the best result for the accident victim.

Our Experience

The Bratton Firm has the requisite expertise to quickly investigate any boating or other water sports accident. Specifically, our attorneys are licensed; have completed coast guard and captain training; and have thousands of hours of experience in offshore waters, in the coastal bay, and in virtually every lake system in the state of Texas. The Firm has handled cases for those injured on offshore vessels as well as cases involving recreational boating and personal watercraft injuries right here in Central Texas.

With approximately 30 years of experience in prosecuting personal injury cases, our attorneys thoroughly understand cases involving boating and other water sports accidents. Additionally, our attorneys are certified as Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyers by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Whether the result of a boating or other water sports accident is serious injury or wrongful death, our attorneys stand up for your rights and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

The first step to putting a strong case together is to have a solid understanding of the facts and chain-of-events related to the incident. In an effort to best serve our clients, we offer an initial or first-time consultation (free of charge) to listen and offer advice on their potential for financial recovery. If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating or other water sports accident, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.