Boating is a pleasurable activity for Massachusetts residents, but unfortunate accidents can happen at times. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident involving a motorboat, sailboat, or another type of boat because of another’s negligence, you should be able to recover your rightful compensation from the at-fault party.
At Shapiro Law Group, PC, our accomplished Massachusetts boat accident attorneys will focus on establishing evidence that proves your injuries occurred because of the negligent actions of the other party. Negligence in a boating accident is said to occur under Massachusetts law when someone’s failure to exercise reasonable care results in your injuries.
Here are some of the most common types of boating accidents in Boston, MA which could occur because of another’s negligence:
- Collision between your boat and another watercraft
- Your boat hitting an object, a submerged rock, jetty, or land
- Your boat is hit by another boat’s wake
- Your boat is hit by a powerful wave caused by another vessel
The dedicated Boston personal injury attorneys at Shapiro Law Group, PC have sharp legal acumen and extensive experience to help you recover maximum damages from the negligent parties for boating accident injuries.
When Two Boats Collide
Any marine accident that causes damage or injury must be reported to the authorities governing the waterways. This is a necessary step to provide an official account of what occurred to cause the accident. The officer in charge will take down the information from all parties involved in a non-injury accident and help determine who was at fault. The authorities will take down your version of events. It is important to be truthful and to use language that best represents what you believe happened.
Hitting Another Boat’s Wake or a Big Wave
If a strong wave or wake of another boat hits your boat, you and the other occupants of your boat could be knocked down or even thrown overboard. Factors that your Boston boat accident attorney will consider to determine the liability of the boat operator for your injuries will include:
- Whether the accident occurred in a motorboat or sailboat
- At what speed was your boat operating?
- What was the size of the wake or the wave?
- The weather conditions and visibility at the time of the accident
- What was the boat traffic around the site of the accident?
- Did your boat operator forewarn you of an approaching large wave or wake?
Our Boston personal injury attorneys, in this case, will also examine whether another boat operator that caused the wake may also have some responsibility for your injuries. For example, if the incident occurred in a no-wake zone, then the wake hitting your boat would be a safety violation, which may make it possible to hold the other boat operator liable for your injuries.
Another example could be where a motorboat zipped through a high-traffic site, leaving behind a large wake that hits your boat. Hypothetically speaking, our attorneys may be able to hold the boat operator liable for your injuries because their action resulted in the formation of too large a wake for the area.
Safety Equipment Missing or Malfunctioning
The law in Massachusetts requires even a small pleasure boat to carry the mandatory safety equipment on board. These could include life jackets, navigational lights, flares, throwable life rings, fire extinguishers, and loud whistles. Injuries may occur when some of these devices are missing or malfunctioning, and even the rescue efforts may be hampered.
What Happens if the MBTA is Responsible for Your Injuries?
Depending on the circumstances of your case, our Boston personal injury attorney may find that one of the at-fault parties for your injuries in a boating accident is the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
While pursuing a claim against a government agency, such as the MBTA, would be more complicated, our legal team at Shapiro Law Group, PC have the skill and experience to fight for your claim successfully against all liable parties, including the MBTA, in order to maximize your potential compensation.
