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People often take advantage of the great weather in Fort Mill, South Carolina, using their boats to enjoy the sun. Unfortunately, at times, fun, relaxing days on the water can turn tragic. A personal injury attorney with Schiller & Hamilton might be able to obtain you some financial relief in an injury suit if you or a family member sustained serious harm in a boating accident.
Reach out to a Fort Mill boat accident lawyer today for a free consultation to learn more about legal representation and your options for recovering financial compensation from the party that caused the accident.
Recoverable Damages in a Negligent Boating Accident in Fort Mill
Because boat accidents cause severe and sometimes fatal injuries, victims have associated losses they should be compensated for. If you or a loved one is in this situation, our boat accident lawyer will review the losses you have and set out to prove the damages you suffered and request payment from the liable party’s insurer.
Recoverable damages in a boating accident could include:
- Medical expenses
- Future treatment and rehabilitation care
- Lost income and other earnings
- Reduced earning ability
- Property damages (repairs, replacement)
- Pain and suffering (physical, mental, emotional)
- Wrongful death damages if a boating accident victim suffered fatal injuries (funeral and burial costs, final medical expenses, etc.)
How Our Fort Mill Boat Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Seeking damages when you are recovering from boat accident injuries can be challenging. The idea of it even discourages some injured parties from pursuing legal representation that could lead to financial recovery. This is where our injury attorneys come in.
We can manage your entire case and work on your behalf for compensation. Before we start, we will listen to your account of events and explain what your options are. In addition to reviewing your damages and explaining how they would advocate for you, our lawyer will:
- Manage your case’s paperwork and file it on time and within South Carolina’s statute of limitations deadline (generally three years, per S.C. Code § 15-3-530, although the timeline could change if the accident involves a government employee)
- Investigate the accident and collect relevant evidence (a police report, witness testimony, etc.)
- Consult with expert witnesses who can provide insight into your boat, accident, and injuries
- Handle negotiations for financial compensation with an insurer
- Prepare your case if we seek recovery at trial
We handle each case according to its facts and circumstances, so your legal strategy will be unique to address your situation. Also, we will update you regularly and ensure you know what is going on with your case at all times.
Common Types of Boating Accidents in Fort Mill, SC
People can sustain injuries on the water in different types of accidents. Often, injuries occur in the following situations:
- When one boat crashes into another boat
- When a boat hits a dock, a buoy, or another fixed object
- When a boat grounds itself
- When water gets into a boat and causes it to sink
- When a boat capsizes
- When a boat passenger falls overboard
Our Fort Mill boat accident attorney could investigate the scene of the accident to see if a court could hold anyone legally responsible for the claimant’s injuries.
How Do Boat Accidents Happen in Fort Mill, SC?
Recreational boating accidents often occur due to a myriad of causes. One of the most common causes is distracted boat operating. People often do not take operating a boat as seriously as they do driving a car. They tend to be more relaxed on their boats. They do not pay full attention to their surroundings or their boat operator duties. However, just as distracted driving can cause car accidents, distracted boat operating can cause boating accidents.
Additionally, alcohol and drug use can cause a severe crash. Boat operators often join in with their passengers to drink and use recreational drugs while they are on their boats because many people seem to believe that boating while under the influence is not as dangerous as drunk driving a car, yet it can lead to the same serious injuries and death. Speeding, inexperience, and mechanical failures are also known causes of boating collisions.
How Do You Establish the Cause of a Boat Crash?
Our legal representatives could help a claimant build a strong case by examining the evidence from the accident. A seasoned boating attorney could review police and coast guard reports, interview eyewitnesses to see what they noticed, and, if necessary, subpoena the defendant’s medical records to check their blood/alcohol level or their cellphone records to see if the defendant was using their cellphone at the time of the accident.
Common Injuries in Fort Mill Boating Accidents
Although most boating accidents cause only minor injuries, they can, unfortunately, cause severe harm. After a boating accident, some people suffer from head injuries, back injuries, cuts, broken bones, shock, hypothermia, and even death.
A knowledgeable local attorney could calculate the injured claimant’s damages and help them seek compensation from the responsible party. If you have suffered injuries in a boating accident in Fort Mill, seek prompt medical attention and document your treatment.
Reach Out to a Fort Mill Boat Accident Lawyer for Help Today
Recovering from serious personal injuries is challenging. A financial settlement against the people who caused your injuries could help you pay for some of the treatments that you need to speed up your recovery and get back to normal.
Reach out to a Fort Mill boat accident lawyer today at Schiller & Hamilton to see if you have a viable case for compensation. We are ready to review your legal options and get to work for you.