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(281) 587-1111 (281) 587-1111 Our Top-Rated Houston Boat Accident Lawyer has been trusted to get maximum compensation for victims for over 35 years!
and discuss your case with Houston’s leading boat accident lawyer.
Our top-rated personal injury lawyers in Houston have been maximizing your compensation claims for over three decades. Let our experienced boat accident lawyers help your family! Call (281) 587-1111.
The vast majority of Texas boating accidents are caused by negligence.
Texas is a boater’s paradise with the square miles of inland lakes of any state in the union. Additionally, our coastline provides many more recreational opportunities for Texas boaters.
Like in car accidents, victims of boat accidents often have legal rights and options, and we offer a no-obligation consultation to answer questions and concerns after a boating accident.
Wondering what to do after a boating accident? Call us! (281) 587-1111!
For a free consultation, fill out our case review request form or call us at (281) 587-1111.
A Houston boating accident lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm will help you with your accident case. Our nationally recognized personal injury law firm can answer your questions and take steps to protect your rights. We have been assisting victims in Texas for over three decades.
Initial investigations after a boat accident are a crucial step to help preserve your rights and options.
While the Parks and Wildlife Department generally investigates severe injury or wrongful death boat crashes, it’s essential to have your team analyze the cause of the accident.
Our boat accident attorneys will investigate your case and generally will:
Call an experienced lawyer in Texas for boating accidents. (281) 587-1111!
Boat operators must follow local, state, and federal laws that apply. The TPWD works with the U.S. Coast Guard to enforce the law and provide search and rescue missions.
The law enforcement agency is often called the “Texas Navy.” Like vehicle accidents on land, boating accidents are often caused by negligence.
A negligent act is one that the operator knew or should have known was unsafe and could harm or injure another.
Some of the most common causes of boating accidents include inexperience, inattention, reckless operation, speeding, operating while impaired, equipment failure, and weather. About half of the reported boating accidents were caused by intoxicated driving (BWI).
Many people enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages while they are on their boats. The boat’s operator should never be impaired due to alcohol or drugs. An irresponsible boater may be held responsible for an accident and any damages and injuries.
The boat owner or operator must follow the Texas Water Safety Act and provide a safe vessel, including safety vests for all passengers. Failure to do so could be considered negligence.
According to BUI Initiatives, as little as three drinks can put someone under 160 pounds legally under the influence to operate a boat in Texas.
According to the Coast Guard, a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above .08% – the legal threshold in Texas for those above 18 – is ten times more likely to be killed in a boating or jet ski accident than a person not drinking.
Drowning Accidents
It is well known that drinking impairs judgment and encourages risk-taking, which can be disastrous for swimmers.
Swimmers can squirm out too far, take chances diving in shallow water, or even not realize they are in danger until it’s too late. Alcohol is a big part of many drowning cases.
Fatal boating accidents involving alcohol use are at a rate higher than fatal car accidents. Almost 2/3 of fatal boating accidents involve alcohol use. Studies have shown that the chances of being in a boating accident are greatly enhanced by whether the operator drinks.
Just as alcohol impacts a driver’s ability to control a car, it also affects a boater’s judgment leading to tragic consequences.
Designate a driver for your boat, keep your passengers safe, and enjoy the summer for years to come.
According to Section 31.104 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, an operator of a boat after an accident is required to:
Additionally, a boat accident must be reported to the department within 30 days of the accident with appropriate information. If the boat accident results in death, the incident must be reported within 48 hours.
Inexperienced operators often cause boat accidents. Anyone born after September 1, 1993, must receive boat operator education to operate a personal watercraft and certain motorboats.
Children younger than 13 must wear a life jacket while in a boat less than 26 feet in length.
Right-of-way and other rules apply to boat accidents as they do to car accidents in the state of Texas.
Since Southeast Texas is not the only host to the Gulf of Mexico but is also home to many other waterways, it is no surprise that boating is a favorite pastime for Texans.
This outdoor activity allows one to enjoy the fresh air and Texas’ waterways and to relax. However, this relaxation and enjoyment of the water can often lead to serious consequences.
According to the Coast Guard, in one year alone, an estimated 4,062 accidents involved 560 deaths. There were approximately 2,620 injuries, resulting in an estimated $39 million of damages because of recreational boating accidents.
Moreover, the research also indicates that, when it came to recreational vessels, the fatality rate was 4.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals.
Despite the recent slight decrease in boating accident deaths, one should still be aware of the facts.
As one can see, there are many ways to lessen accidents and fatalities related to recreational boating activities. One of the most important ways is proper operator training and obeying all laws.
It is essential to ensure that life jackets are worn when boating and should always be on board to prevent accidental drowning.
Boating accidents may occur with any vessel, including motorboats, jet skis, canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats, sailboats, and other vessels.
An accident is an event or series of events that cause property damage, injury, or death. The U.S. Coast Guard lists some of the most common types of accidents as:
The U.S. Coast Guard indicates that most boating accidents involve negligence. Also, Federal law requires the boat operator to report a boating accident any time the accident results in a personal injury, fatality, or damage to property of more than $2,000. Or when a boat is destroyed and a person aboard a vessel goes missing. A problem in Texas is people behind the boat’s wheel who are inexperienced in its safe operation. Especially when the Texas legislature required training, the fact remains that people operating boats without proper training cause a good number of accidents.
The ecstasy, adrenaline rush, and excitement that come from operating a Jet Ski on a hot day are unparalleled. Jet Skiers in Texas can find several places to enjoy their favorite water sport. J.P. Luby Surf Park, North Packery Channel Jetty in Corpus Christi, Lake Travis, and Lake Conroe are a few of the areas where you can enjoy your Jet Ski.
Unfortunately, collisions can also happen, resulting in severe injury and damage. Personal watercrafts such as Jet Skis are popular across the United States, and each year, they are involved in recreational boat accidents. Besides Jet Ski, other personal watercraft brands include Ski-Doo and Waverunner.
After a Jet Ski accident, the injury lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm recommend taking the following steps.
Get to Safety: If you’re still out in the water, getting to safety should be your top priority. Contact the rental service or emergency rescue services around you.
See a Doctor: Even if you escape with minimal physical injury, it’s essential to visit a doctor for a checkup.
Call a Jet Ski Wreck Lawyer: Contact a boating accident lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm for immediate legal assistance. Call (281) 587-1111 or email us to request a FREE injury accident consultation!
Compensation after a Jet Ski accident varies depending on several factors such as:
Each case is different, and we advise that you contact your personal injury attorney at Baumgartner Law Firm for proper legal representation. With an experienced lawyer by your side, you can also fight for additional damages for long-term pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of income.
However, establishing negligence and liability is the challenging part after a personal watercraft accident in Texas waters. Several factors need to be considered to find the responsible party.
In most Jet Ski accidents, there is usually an “assumption of risk” since the operator or renter consciously chooses to rent a vessel and operate one while fully aware of the potential danger.
Liability waivers also complicate the situation further because they’re created to protect the Jet Ski owner. In most cases, the waiver protects the owner from being sued after a renter is injured. However, when the accident occurs due to the owner or manufacturer’s fault, the liability waivers may be ineffective.
Our injury attorneys at Baumgartner Law Firm help you navigate these situations and file a claim against the liable party.
The Texas Game Wardens provide professional water law enforcement, search and rescue, and water safety coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recognized national standards.
The Texas Game Wardens are part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Law Enforcement Division and are commonly referred to as the ‘Texas Navy.’ They are tasked with enforcing the Texas Water Safety Act, which includes several requirements and rules that boaters must follow.
Boating accidents can also include jet skis in places like Lake Conroe.
If you have lost a family member, or have a loved one severely injured in a boating or Jet Ski accident, call us to discuss your rights and options. We charge nothing for an initial case consultation.
One of the biggest problems in Texas is people getting behind the wheel of the boat who are inexperienced in its safe operation.
Even with Texas requiring training, people operating boats without proper training cause many accidents. Call our boat accident lawyers in Texas at Baumgartner Law Firm and speak with one of the best personal injury lawyers in Houston to learn about your rights and options after a serious boating accident.
Contact a personal injury lawyer in Houston for a free consultation today at (281) 587-1111.
Baumgartner Law Firm
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy
Houston, Texas 77069
(281) 587-1111
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