Grand Rapids Boat Accident Lawyers

Did someone’s negligence cause you to get injured in a boat accident? At Jay Trucks and Associates, an experienced Grand Rapids boat accident attorney is prepared to review the circumstances that caused your injuries in a free consultation.

We have represented injured clients in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as other cities and counties throughout the state. In over three decades, we have recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients.

If you have a valid boat accident claim and we represent you, there are zero upfront costs for you to pay. This means zero risk to you. We get no money unless we recover compensation for your damages.

Does My Accident Qualify For a Boat Accident Claim?

There are many factors that could determine whether or not you may have an eligible claim, including how the accident happened and the severity of your injuries.

When you meet with one of our pleasure craft injury attorneys, we will review the circumstances that led to your accident to determine whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the damages you sustained.

Typically, you or your attorney are required to establish that the accident and your resulting injuries were due to another’s negligent actions. In personal injury law, this means having to prove the following:

• There was a duty of care owed to prevent harm to you or others
• That duty was not upheld by the responsible party because he or she failed to act as a reasonable person would have in the same situation
• The breached duty directly caused your injuries and would not have otherwise happened
• You suffered measurable damages, such as medical expenses to treat your injuries

Pursuing Compensation For Boat Accident Injuries

Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible for compensation for any damages sustained. In order to give you an accurate idea of the potential value for your claim, we need to understand all of the details, including the type and extent of injuries you suffered.

You may be eligible to the following forms of compensation:

• Urgent care treatment for the initial injury
• Lost wages if you needed to stay home to recover
• Travel to and from your medical treatments
• All reasonable medical expenses, including surgery that may be needed
• Pain and suffering
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation care
• In-patient hospital stays
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Prescription medication to handle pain, infection or other issues related to your injuries

Types of Boat Accident Cases We Handle

There are many types of recreational vehicles on the water that can cause accidents and lead to injuries. We are prepared to take on many different types of boat accidents, such as:

• Jet ski collisions
• Wave runner crashes
• Motorboat accidents
• Ferry accidents
• Cruise ship crashes
• Kayak or canoe accidents

If you were injured in a boat or other watercraft accident, we encourage you to contact our attorneys at Jay Trucks and Associates for legal help.

Who Can Be Liable For a Boat Accident?

While most often the liable party will be the boat operator, there could also be other parties who were either partially or fully responsible for your boat accident, including:

• The boat owner could be held liable if he or she knowingly loaned out his or her boat to an inexperienced or impaired person.
• Passengers are expected to have a good time, but when this turns into wild or reckless behavior on a boat, people can be injured due to slip and falls, fires and even someone falling overboard.
• Manufacturers could be liable if a defective component caused an explosion or some other dangerous mechanical malfunction to occur.
• Boat rental companies may be held liable if they did not properly maintain their watercraft and an accident ensued.

If someone else’s negligence caused the accident that led to your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for the damages you sustained. We are standing by to take your call at any time, 24/7.

When to Report A Michigan Boat Accident

Michigan has very specific laws about when you must completed and file an Official Boating Accident Report form to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

For these incidents, you must complete and file the form within 48 hours if:

• A loss of consciousness occurred during or after an accident on the boat or vessel
• The boat operator or a passenger suffered a disability lasting longer than 24 hours
• The accident required someone to require medical care
• A death resulted within 24 hours following an accident

Incidents described below must be reported within five days of the incident:

• When there is property damage of $2,000 or more
• When anyone disappears or falls from a boat or other watercraft, and injury or death is assumed

Steps to Take After a Boat Accident

The most important thing to do is seek immediate medical care. Often after a boat accident, victims may be in a state of shock, and even if there is no visible evidence of a wound, he or she could have a serious, even life-threatening injury. Some wounds are hidden, such as a traumatic brain injury, concussion, internal bleeding or organ damage, and certain types of fractures.

Ignoring your medical health could result in more serious harm or in extreme circumstances, death.

In addition to protecting your health, seeing a doctor establishes a verifiable record of your injuries and links them to the accident. This can be helpful when you are attempting to gather evidence to build a strong argument for compensation.

Other types of evidence that can be used to build a strong case include:

• Pictures from the accident scene, including visible injuries and boat damage
• Statements and contact details from witnesses
• Vessel identification information
• Contact details from the boat operator and other passengers on the boat

How Do Boat Accidents Happen?

Boat accidents can happen for several reasons, such as:

• Fires or explosions due to careless behavior or a mechanical malfunction
• Boats sinking, capsizing or flooding
• Slip and falls caused by slippery surfaces or tripping over an object
• Passengers falling in or overboard because the operator was excessively speeding
• Multiple boats or other water recreational vehicles colliding
• Collisions with buoys, rocks, land or other swimmers in the water

Important Michigan Filing Deadlines

If you suffered an injury in a boat accident caused by another’s negligence, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. However, Michigan has a strict statute of limitations that gives you just three years from the date of the accident to file. If you miss this deadline, you will likely have no other opportunity to recover compensation for your damages.

There are exceptions in the state that modify your deadline significantly. This means your deadline could be sooner or later, depending on the circumstances.

Three years is also not as much time as many people may think. When it comes to investigating, preparing and negotiating for maximum compensation, your attorney needs time to prepare a solid argument on your behalf.

Our Grand Rapids boat accident attorneys are well-versed in the laws that may impact your claim, including the filing deadline.

Contact A Grand Rapids Boat Accident Attorney Today

Boat accident claims are complicated and requires the help of a knowledgeable attorney. At Jay Trucks and Associates, we have been achieving results for our clients for over 30 years, recovering more than $500 million in compensation.

Take advantage of the free consultation we offer. There is no risk to you, and it is an opportunity to learn whether you have a valid claim and get answers to your legal questions. You are not obligated to take legal action but if you do, you pay us no upfront fees unless we recover compensation for you.