Boat Rental Injury Attorney in Los Angeles

The warm and sunny days in Southern California appeal to those who enjoy being out in the water. Sailing, fishing, and other activities involving a boat are very popular among residents and tourists. However, boats are expensive to purchase and maintain, so owning a vessel is not a realistic option for most people. Thankfully, boat rental companies make it easy to rent anything from a rowboat to a yacht and take it out for an excursion.

The problem is, you can never be sure about how the boats are taken care of by the rental agency. You expect that you are given a safe and sturdy vessel with qualified staff members, which you are entitled to as a paying customer. Boating companies should also keep an eye out for weather conditions and other hazards that can lead to an accident. As a result, multiple people may be killed or end up with severe injuries.

Suing for a boat accident involves complex legal procedures, and it’s best to seek help from a lawyer specializing in boat-related injuries. Our team of boat rental accident attorneys can talk to you about your rights and help you pursue a case for monetary damages. Let us take care of the legal process while you focus on your health and being there for your loved ones.

Your Right to Sue a Boating Company for an Accident

It’s important to acknowledge that being in a boat puts you at risk of injuries, which can happen for many different reasons. Each boating accident must be thoroughly investigated before we can determine who, it anyone, is at fault. As an injury victim, we can help you determine the cause of your accident, which may have to do with negligence by one or more parties. Our boat rental injury lawyers work with maritime accident reconstruction experts and other professionals in order to gather evidence and build a solid case.

By this point, you may be wondering about your right to sue if you signed a waiver in order to rent the boat. This is common practice, but it’s not a form of iron-clad protection for boat rental companies. Various acts of negligence can serve as grounds for a lawsuit, regardless of whether the passenger signed a waiver. In the following sections, we will go into detail about the situations that can be used to justify a rental boat accident lawsuit.

Hiring Workers That are Not Properly Licensed

Before 2025, a Boater Card was required for anyone under the age of 60, along with completion of a state-approved safety course. However, the laws have changed so that anyone working for a boat rental company must have a Boater Card, regardless of their age. This is an important consideration when it comes to examining a rental boat company’s liability for injuries to a patron.

Failure to Issue Critical Warnings

The waiver that you sign prior to getting on a rented boat will have a list of inherent risks and dangers. However, boat companies should take the added precaution of warning passengers verbally about rough waters, inclement weather, and other conditions that can cause an accident. If there was a failure to warn by staff members, those who are injured while out on a boat may have grounds to file a liability claim.

Neglecting Proper Maintenance of the Boat

The companies that own and rent out vessels are responsible for inspecting and maintaining the boats, which include replacing parts and making repairs as needed. Whenever a boat is poorly maintained, accidents can happen from malfunctions, like the boat throttle sticking. Maintenance also includes properly equipping the boat with:

• Regulation compliant life jackets (one per passenger) and floatation devices
• Navigational lights
• Coast Guard- approved fire extinguisher
• Whistle or some other device that can produce loud sounds
• Muffler that is compliant with state regulations
• Current registration

If there is any kind of deviation from these standards and a passenger is injured as a result, the boat company may be liable for damages like medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Aside from a personal injury claim, boat rental companies can be sued by a deceased victim’s family (wrongful death lawsuit). This way, the family can obtain compensation for funeral costs, loss of expected savings, loss of consortium and other economic and non-economic damages.

Letting Ineligible Passengers on Board

Companies that rent out boats must check that passengers are qualified to get on or operate a vessel. So, what are the conditions that disqualify an individual from a boat rental in California? Consider the following requirements:

• The person is visibly under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
• The patron is under the age of 16 and lacks a valid California Boater Card (required of anyone that wishes to operate boats above a certain horsepower)
• The number of people that wish to board the vessel exceeds the boat’s capacity limit.

When a rental boat company fails to comply with these rules, they are knowingly putting people in danger. Companies that are negligent in their duty of care must be punished and made to pay compensation to the injured parties or their loved ones.

Contact a Boat Rental Accident Lawsuit Attorney

At Kenmore Law Group, we have a deep understanding of the challenges that stand in your way when you are injured in a serious accident. Though you can seek justice under the law, many aspects of a lawsuit are confusing and frustrating. That’s why our boat malfunction injury lawyers are here for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our lawyers have been fighting for the right of accident victims for many years, and we don’t believe in getting paid unless you do. Hence, we provide you with the Zero Fee Guarantee and charge you $0 upfront if you wish to go ahead with a boat accident injury claim. After recovering your settlement or compensation from a jury verdict, we will claim a percentage for legal fees. Otherwise, you pay nothing and walk away debt-free.

If you are interested in finding out more about your rights and legal options, please take this opportunity to get in touch with us.