Boating Accidents

Dedicated Personal Injury Lawyers Assisting Residents of Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Detroit

Michigan has a long inland coastline that surrounds Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Huron. Boating is a very popular recreational activity. However, boating can be dangerous, and accidents do occur. Someone who causes a boating accident may be held accountable. In contrast to automobile drivers, boaters are not required to purchase no-fault insurance for their boats to cover their basic economic losses in case of an accident.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan boat accident, the Detroit, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids boating accident attorneys at the Neumann Law Group are immediately available to help you pursue damages. Injury lawyer Kelly Neumann is dedicated to asserting the rights of victims and knows what it takes to obtain fair compensation for what you’ve been through.

Pursuing Compensation After Boating Accidents

If you are injured, or a loved one is killed in a boating accident or Jet Ski accident, you may be able to sue for compensatory damages, including medical expenses, property damages, lost income, and wrongful death.

In some cases, criminal charges may be brought against the driver of the boat, for example, if the boat’s driver was boating under the influence of alcohol or showed gross negligence. However, even if a criminal case is filed, it is separate and distinct from a civil case. This is because the goal of a criminal case is to punish the defendant for violating the law, whereas the object of a civil personal injury claim is to compensate the victim for the economic and non-economic damages they sustained as a result of the accident.

Because civil and criminal cases are entirely separate, you can still pursue a civil case against a negligent boat operator liable, even if he or she is acquitted of criminal charges, since a different standard of proof applies. However, the evidence developed in a criminal case may influence a civil case, so it is important to consult a personal injury attorney about your options right away.

How to Prove Liability in Michigan Boat Accident Lawsuits

All boat owners and operators must make sure that their vessels are in good condition and being driven safely. A failure to use reasonable care can result in injuries or death and give rise to liability. In many cases, the question will be whether the boat operator or owner was negligent. As a plaintiff, you would have to prove the duty of the boat operator or owner, a breach of the duty, causation, and actual damages. Among the factors that may be considered in connection with a negligence claim are whether the boat operator used appropriate protocols in operating the boat, whether it was properly manned, and whether the operator or crew were properly trained.

In most cases, if a boat operator was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or the boat was not properly equipped with safety equipment, a jury is likely to find these are breaches of the duty to use reasonable care. However, some accidents are more complex, and it may be necessary in those cases to retain an accident reconstruction expert to figure out who was responsible.

In some cases, passengers sign accident liability waivers before embarking on a boat trip. Historically, a release was not enforceable in Michigan unless it was accompanied by consideration to the individual giving up his or her rights. However, these days, waivers are sometimes upheld, and in those cases, you may have to prove gross negligence or intentional misconduct to recover compensation.

Consult a Boating Accident Attorney in Traverse City, Grand Rapids, or Detroit

At the Neumann Law Group, our principal, Kelly Neumann, offers experienced legal representation to people injured on the water. For the past several years, she has consistently obtained more than $3 million in personal injury damages on behalf of the firm’s clients. Among our considerations when bringing lawsuits is insurance coverage. In the context of boating accidents, sources for coverage may include boat liability insurance and homeowners’ insurance. Our Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City boating accident lawyers are ready to represent you with the diligence and care that you deserve. We can assist injured people in Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Wyoming, Saginaw, Muskegon, Midland, Holland, Dearborn, Warren, Petoskey, and communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Our personal injury and wrongful death attorneys can also guide accident victims in California and Massachusetts. Contact us at 800-525-NEUMANN or via our online form for a free consultation.