As the home of many lakes and rivers (in addition to being on the Pacific Coast), boating is a popular recreational activity throughout Washington.  Motor boats, sail boats, jet skis, and other recreational watercraft are all popular.

When we engage in recreational water activities, we deserve to be safe from the negligence, carelessness, and inattentiveness of others.  Tragically, when others are inattentive or engage in risky behaviors, fun recreational activities can turn into disaster in a split second.

Causes of Boating and Watercraft Accidents

According to Recreational Boating Statistics 2011 published by the U.S Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 4,588 boat and watercraft accidents that resulted in 758 deaths in 2011.  The top 10 known contributing factors of watercraft accident during this year were:

  • Operator inattention
  • Improper lookout,
  • Operator inexperience,
  • Excessive speed,
  • Machinery failure,
  • Alcohol use,
  • Weather,
  • Rules of the Road Violations, and
  • Force of wave/wake.

While alcohol use ranked number 6 in the list of contributing factors to accidents, it was by far the leading single factor in fatal accidents, accounting for over 16% of fatalities.

We Seek Full Compensation for Our Clients from Those Responsible for Causing Injury

The fact is, there’s no difference between injuries that occur on a lake or other waterway than on the land, other than injuries occurring in the water can additionally lead to drowning.  Often, those who would never get behind the wheel of a car while drinking or intoxicated don’t think twice about drinking and operating watercraft while intoxicated.  They may even believe that they should not be held accountable for the accidents they cause because they were “only having fun.”  This is not the case.

There is no “fun” when serious injury or death occurs.  As with all other personal injury cases, we take water-related accident cases seriously, and seek to recover the full measure of compensation due to our clients from all those responsible.  We do not care whether the injury was caused by others having fun, especially if this “fun” involved intoxication.

We go after all those responsible.  In some instances, this includes bringing an action against other third parties, such as those who may have furnished alcohol to underage drinkers who have caused injury or death.  This is the only way to ensure that our clients and their families are properly compensated.

If You Have Been Injured or a Family Member has been Killed as a Result of a Water-Related Accident in Washington, Please Call Us

Once we learn about the facts and circumstances of your case, we can explain your options for seeking legal recovery and how we can help advance your case.  There is no fee for us unless and until we recover a settlement or award for you.  We generally represent clients in personal injury matters on a contingency fee basis, meaning that there is no fee to us unless we recover damages.

Please call us today at 206-388-0333 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with us at your convenience.


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