From creeks to lakes, bayous, and bays, the greater Houston area is full of waterways used daily for recreation, commerce, and travel. Between motorboats, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, and commercial ships, waterways are often crowded, and the risk of an accident is very real. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact one of our experienced Houston Personal Injury attorneys today.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Houston
Boating accidents occur for numerous reasons, sometimes for multiple reasons. The most common causes of boating accidents include:
- Operator error or negligence: Operating a boat, especially a motorized watercraft, requires knowledge, experience, and focus. Failing to exercise reasonable care when operating a boat can result in serious injury, even death.
- Defective boat or equipment: If a watercraft, its controls, or equipment is defective or damaged, it can create a serious risk of an accident. Damage or defects can be the result of a manufacturing defect or an owner’s failure to maintain and repair.
- Intoxication: Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and unsafe.
Common Injuries Incurred in Boating Accidents
Boating accidents often result in serious injuries, and in the most severe cases fatalities. The risk of injury is further compounded on the water by the inherent risk of drowning involved. Minor injuries that might not pose a risk of death on land can be much more serious when sustained while boating. Some of the most common injury claims in boating accidents include:
- Drowning – When injured on the water even strong swimmers can find themselves at risk of drowning. This risk is compounded where safety rules are flaunted and personal flotation devices such as life vests are not worn.
- Traumatic brain injuries – Head and brain injuries are common in boating accidents both from oxygen deprivation caused by being submerged underwater and from impact trauma from a crash or collision.
- Spinal cord injury – The delicate discs and vertebrae of the spine can be injured in a boating accident by impact trauma or by compression due to a vessel experiencing turbulence on waves or wake.
How Can a Houston Boat Accident Attorney Help You
Each case is different, but if you have been injured in a boating accident, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, loss of employment, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, funeral expenses, and other damages. Our attorneys can pursue claims against boat owners, watercraft operators, manufacturers, rental companies, or other parties as necessary.
If you are looking for legal advice on boat accident injuries in Houston, TX, please contact our experienced lawyers. Sign up for a consultation and get help as soon as possible.