Los Angeles Boat Rental Accident Lawyer

California’s sunny and warm weather is ideal for those who love being out on the water. While many people love sailing, owning a boat is not a viable option, but there are many companies that rent out vessels, ranging from row boats to luxury yachts. While there are plenty of companies at your disposal, there is no guarantee that the owners and staff are doing all that is necessary to minimize injuries to the passengers. Accidents on boats can happen from lack of maintenance and not hiring people with the right credentials. Even if the staff has the right experience, they may fail to disclose certain risks about weather conditions and other hazards. If you sustained injuries in a rental boat accident, you may be eligible for monetary damages from a personal injury lawsuit.

Suing for accidents on a rented boat involves complicated steps, which you should discuss with an experienced attorney. The boat rental injury lawyers of Kenmore are ready to hear your story and represent you in a claim against the responsible party. Our goal is to handle every aspect of your case and obtain the compensation you deserve, while you focus on getting better after a serious accident. Reach out to us at our office in Los Angeles to receive a free, private consultation.

Suing a Boat Rental Company after an Accident

Sailing and other activities involving a boat come with inherent risks, and accidents can happen for all sorts of reasons. Liability for a boat accident can only be determined after a thorough investigation. By contacting our law firm, you can ensure that the true cause of your accident is revealed, and legal action is taken against the parties that harmed you. The majority of claims for injuries in a boat accident are filed against the rental company, as they are the owners of the vessel.

Some clients that come to us have questions about their right to sue if they signed a waiver. This is a common practice when you rent a boat, and yes, a waiver does place limitations on what you can do if you are injured on a rental boat. However, signing a waiver doesn’t mean that you have signed away your right to a lawsuit when there is clear negligence by the rental company that caused or contributed to the accident. Below are examples of legal grounds for a boat accident lawsuit.

Poor Maintenance

Boat rental companies have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their vessels, which involves inspecting, maintaining, and making repairs as needed. Lack of maintenance or improper maintenance can cause malfunctions, like the boat throttle sticking and causing the operator to lose control of the vessel. Boats must also have safety equipment, such as life jackets or floatation devices, navigational lights, and whistles.

Those who are injured can sue a rental boat company for failure to properly maintain and equip the boat per the requirements under California law. By filing a claim for damages, you can receive numerous types of compensation, such as medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. If your family member or spouse died in a boat rental accident, you may be entitled to funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and other benefits from a wrongful death lawsuit.

Ineligible Passengers

Companies renting out boats have a duty to check for documentation and ensure that someone is qualified to board or operate a boat. Conditions that would disqualify an individual from renting a boat include:

• The person appears to be drunk / under the influence of drugs.
• The patron is under 16 years old and lacks a California Boater Card, which they must be in possession to operate certain boats.
• The number of passengers that want to board the vessel exceed the capacity limit.

Employees without Proper Credentials

There was a time when Boater Cards were only required for people under a certain age. However, the current laws required that anyone working for a boat rental company obtain a California Boater Card. Companies that violate the rule and hire someone without proper licensing are liable if the employee causes an accident where people are injured.

Failure to Warn

Before you board a boat, you are given a waiver that details various risk factors. However, companies should make it a point to verbally warn passengers about dangerous conditions like inclement weather and rough waters. If there is a failure by the staff to issue critical warnings and you end up being injured, the company may be sued for monetary damages.

At the end of the day, negligence by boating companies can lead to injuries or death. Filing a lawsuit is one of the most effective ways to hold businesses accountable and ensure that you are not left with financial burdens.

Contact Kenmore Law Group

Meeting the legal standard for a boating accident lawsuit can be very difficult, and claimants generally have little success when they try to navigate the legal system on their own. Immediate help from a Los Angeles boat rental injury lawyer is crucial to settling a case in your favor and moving forward with your life in a positive direction.

As part of our commitment to you and your family, we will never charge upfront for the cost of legal services. You pay us $0, and we will work tirelessly to negotiate the highest possible settlement or jury verdict. At that point, a percentage of the recovered funds will go towards attorney’s fees. If we do not bring about a successful resolution to your case, no payment is owed to us under the Zero Fee Guarantee.

Our law firm is here for you 24/7, so call us anytime if you would like to learn about your rights and legal options. We are happy to provide you with a free consultation or free second opinion on an existing claim for a boating accident in California.