Determining Liability After a Boating Accident in Ohio

A boating accident can cause serious physical injuries, property damage, and even death. If you were injured or someone you love was killed in an accident on the water, state and federal laws may apply. The lawyers at Robenalt Law have been handling Ohio boating accident injury claims for over 25 years. We have the experience to evaluate your claim, identify the responsible parties, and hold them accountable for the harm they caused.

Robenalt Law Will Identify the Responsible Parties and Hold Them Accountable

The Boating Accident Injury Lawyers at Robenalt Law evaluate the cause of your injuries, work with the boat owner’s insurance company to negotiate a fair resolution, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

It should come as no surprise that Ohio has a thriving boating scene. With thousands of miles of inland rivers, miles of Lake Erie shoreline, and vibrant islands in Lake Erie’s western basin, Ohio waterways are busy. While it’s great to see Ohioans taking advantage of our natural resources, more boats on the water means an increase in boating accidents.

If you were injured in an Ohio boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The boating accident injury lawyers at Robenalt Law are here to help by evaluating the cause of your injuries, working with the boat owner’s insurance company to negotiate a fair resolution, and fighting for the compensation you deserve.

But determining liability for an Ohio boating accident can be difficult depending on the nature of your injuries, where they occurred, and who was responsible.

Causes of Boating Accidents

There can be many different causes of a boating injury. Sometimes there is a singular cause, while other times, many factors occur together to cause an accident and injuries.

Most recreational boating injuries are covered under state law, which can be found in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Boat Operators Guide. Nonetheless, there are many different parties that might be responsible for causing your injuries.

  • Operator of Another Boat. Operator error is the leading cause of boating accidents in the United States. The error may be caused by the negligence of another boater, who may have been operating at an excessive rate of speed, navigating recklessly, not paying attention, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Operator of Your Vessel. Regardless of whether you are boating with a friend, a family member, or a commercial company, the operator of the vessel has a duty to ensure passenger safety. If the operator fails in this duty, they can be held liable for any injuries that result.
  • Commercial Companies. Many businesses operate recreational vessels and other products. These companies have legal obligations to ensure the safety of their products and that operators are properly trained. When vessels are improperly maintained or boat operators were not properly licensed or trained, both the operator and the company they work for can be liable for your injuries.
  • Product Manufacturers. Under Ohio product liability laws, sellers and manufacturers can be liable for actions or inactions that result in injury or death. If a product is defectively designed or manufactured or improperly marketed, the product manufacturer or seller may be responsible. Product liability lawsuits may stem from defective boats, parts, or equipment.

Proving Liability in an Ohio Boating Accident Lawsuit

As with other types of injury claims, determining liability in boating accidents requires a showing of negligence. The injury victim must prove that someone else acted without reasonable care and that the action or failure to act was the cause of the injury.

People who were injured in a boating accident are entitled to compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include items such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and lost future earnings.

Non-economic damages include intangibles like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

If someone you love was killed in a boating accident, their family may be able to file a claim for wrongful death to obtain compensation for loss of support, loss of services, loss of society, loss of potential inheritance, mental anguish, and funeral and burial expenses.

Contact the Boating Accident Injury Lawyers at Robenalt Law for Help with Your Boating Accident Injury Claim

While boating accidents share some characteristics with other types of personal injury claims, proving liability in a boating accident requires the expertise of an attorney who knows and understands Ohio boating law. You need boat accident injury lawyers who will thoroughly investigate the cause of your injuries and fight to hold the other parties liable for the harm they caused.

Attorney Tom Robenalt has over 25 years of experience handling Ohio boating accident injury claims. He began his career defending personal injury claims for a large law firm in Cleveland. Today, he uses that experience to seek justice who have been harmed by the wrongful acts of others.

To learn more, contact Robenalt Law today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Robenalt Law proudly represents personal injury victims in greater Cleveland, throughout Ohio, and across the country.

Categories: Boating Accidents