Los Angeles Charter Boat Accident Lawyer

Whether you live in California or stop by for a visit, there’s a good chance that you will participate in some sort of water-related activity. In particular, people love to rent yachts and other chartered vessels and spend a day out at sea with family and friends. Sadly, thousands of people are injured or killed in boat accidents every year. Many incidents are caused by negligence or misconduct, and the responsible parties owe the victims much more than an apology.

The chartered boat rental injury lawyers of Kenmore are ready to fight for those who suffered harm in a boating accident. We have the skills and resources to prove a case of liability against the boat rental company and bring you the full range of compensation you deserve by law. Call our office in Los Angeles to receive a free case review.

Safety Regulations for Boat Operators and Passengers

The state of California has various requirements for those who wish to own and operate a boat. If someone is injured due to a violation of a state-mandated rule, they may be liable for any injuries to those on board. Boating safety regulations in California include:

• Individuals younger than 16 must be supervised by an adult if they are operating a boat with 15 horsepower or greater.
• All vessels 10 feet or longer must have a life jacket for every person and 1 floatation device (except for canoes and kayaks)
• You cannot operate a boat or towing device, like water skis, while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Those wishing to operate a boat must have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is under .08%.
• Anyone using a jet ski is bound by the same regulations that apply to the operation of a powerboat.

How to Report a Charter Boat Accident

Federal regulations have strict protocols on the reporting of boating accidents on navigable waters. In the event of an accident, a report must be filed within 48 hours with the state of California or another boating regulatory agency. Reports are mandatory when:

• The accident resulted in one or more fatalities
• One or more people required emergency care because of their injuries
• Someone is lost at sea / missing

Causes of Chartered Rental Boat Accidents

According to the United States Coast Guard, accidents involving rented boats typically involve the following issues:

• Careless or improper actions by the boat operator
• Lack of appropriate safety equipment
• Speeding
• Dangerous water and weather conditions (high winds)
• Failure to provide essential safety information
• Drunk or high while operating a boat
• Fires in the kitchen, engine room, and other areas of the vessel
• Lack of maintenance (or inadequate maintenance)
• Defective equipment / parts
• Operator lacks proper licensing and/or training
• Crew members with insufficient training
• Number of passengers exceeds boat’s capacity limits

Possible Injuries to Passengers

In the event you are hurt in a rented boat accident, make sure to seek medical attention right away. Injuries you may have sustained include:

• Bone fractures
• Chemical burns
• Back injury
• Neck or spinal cord damage
• Crushing injuries, especially to your hands and feet
• Health complications from drowning
• Concussion and other types of brain injuries
• Vision impairments, including permanent blindness
• Loss of hearing
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Disfigurement, like permanent scars
• Hypothermia
• Loss of fingers / limbs
• Death

Who is at Fault for a Boating Accident?

Determining liability for a boat accident can be extremely challenging, and multiple parties may be at fault. These include the rental company that owns and operates the boat, the operator of the boat, specific crew members or passengers, and a boat manufacturer (or parts manufacturer).

In order to prove negligence by someone else for causing you bodily harm, here are the elements you’ll need to prove:

1. You were owed a duty of care by the defendant (party you are suing)
2. The defendant breached their duty of care by doing something negligent or failing to take specific actions
3. Because of negligence by the defendant, you were injured
4. Based on the harm you suffered, you are entitled to monetary damages from the defendant.

Why You Should Contact a Boat Accident Lawsuit Attorney

Disputes on navigable waters are governed by maritime law, and this is a very complex area of law that is not known to most people. It may be obvious to you that a specific entity is to blame for the accident, but proving this under the terms of maritime law requires help from an experienced boat accident lawyer. With the legal team of Kenmore by your side, you can achieve a fair resolution, whether you suffered injuries or lost a family member to a chartered boat accident.

Our law firm works with some of the best maritime accident reconstruction experts in the county. That way, we can determine all the parties that caused or contributed to the accident and maximize the compensation from a boat accident injury claim. At the end of the day, the defendant’s insurance company is not interested in doing the right thing. Their job is to settle the case for as little as possible, and victims are vulnerable to high pressure tactics when they are hurting physically, emotionally, and financially. With that in mind, we hope you will give us the chance to handle your case and secure all the payments you are entitled to, such as medical expenses, lost income, emotional distress, and more.

Contact Kenmore Law Group

Were you or someone in your family injured during a chartered boat outing? If so, you may have grounds to sue one or more parties if they failed to take precautions to keep you from being harmed.

Along with decades of experience in fighting for accident victims and their loved ones, we have a Zero Fee Guarantee that’s available to you from day one. We do not charge you a single cent to hire us, and instead, ask for legal fees to be paid by the defendant. Since we can only get paid by recovering your settlement, you owe us $0 if we do not win your case.

For a free consultation with a boat rental accident attorney, give us a call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.