Oneonta Boat Accident Lawyers

The boat accident lawyers in Oneonta, New York at Stanley Law Offices can help you and your family if you or someone you love was injured in a boating accident. In some instances, boating accident claims follow a similar claims process for other motor vehicle accidents. Negligent or responsible parties are identified, and either the responsible party or their insurer is responsible for paying a claim to those who have been injured. Yet, because boaters and jet ski owners are not required to carry insurance in New York, in the aftermath of a boating accident, negligence and payment of claims often fall upon the private individuals involved.

Yet, because boating accidents occur on the water, they also involve maritime law and require a lawyer familiar with maritime law in Oneonta, New York. The kinds of injuries or causes of death from a boating accident can also differ from other types of motor vehicle accidents. For example, injuries can include drowning, hypothermia, and other serious injuries related to boating accidents.

According to New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, over 400,000 boating vessels are registered in the state. In 2023, 18 people died in boating accidents. These numbers don’t begin to account for the many people who are injured in boating accidents in New York. If you were hurt in a boating accident in New York, contact the Oneonta boating accident lawyers at Stanley Law Offices today. We may be able to help you seek damages for your injuries and other losses.

Causes of Boating Accidents in New York

The leading cause of boating deaths in New York is drowning. A related cause is hypothermia and immersion in cold water. Yet, one of the main contributing factors in 80% of all boating accidents is alcohol and drug use. Just like there are drinking and driving laws for the road, there are drinking and boating laws. In New York, it is illegal to operate a motorized or partially motorized boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals can face drunk boating charges and penalties if their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.08%. Commercial boaters would be considered boating under the influence if their blood alcohol concentration exceeded 0.04%. New York’s boating laws also include implied consent laws, meaning that if a boater believed to be boating while under the influence refuses a blood, breath alcohol, or drug test, he or she could face penalties, and refusal to take these tests could be submitted as evidence in court. In addition to facing criminal penalties, individuals who hurt other people while boating under the influence could be held responsible for injuries and deaths.

Other factors that can lead to boating accidents include boater inexperience, equipment failures (including failures of safety equipment), and carbon monoxide poisoning due to exposed boat engines. Brianna’s Law requires all boaters born after January 1, 1983, to take a boating safety class and obtain a boating safety certificate. Even though drivers are required to be licensed, it wasn’t until relatively recently that boaters were required to take even a basic safety course. Boaters must also carry proper safety equipment, which can be lifesaving in an accident. For example, a floatation vest not only can prevent drowning, but it can also protect against hypothermia. Other safety equipment might include the requirement to carry fire extinguishers, throwable floatation devices, distress signals, and more if the boat meets certain size requirements.

If you or someone you love was injured in a boating accident due to another boater’s negligence or neglect, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses. The Oneonta, New York boating accident lawyers at Stanley Law Offices are here to help. Contact our law firm today to learn more and take the next steps.

Jet Ski Accident Lawyers in Oneonta, New York

Jet ski accidents can result in serious injury. Under New York law, individuals as young as 14 years of age can operate a jet ski. In some ways, jet skis are like motorcycles of the water. Riders don’t have a protective chassis, and if they fall or collide with objects or other boats, serious injuries can occur. Speeding, reckless riding, inexperience, lack of focus while driving, and driving while under the influence are all factors that can lead to jet ski accidents and injuries. Jet ski injuries can include fractures, whiplash, sprains, lacerations, concussions, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can result in lifelong damages and losses.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a jet ski accident, contact the Oneonta, New York jet ski accident lawyers at Stanley Law Offices today. Our attorneys are familiar with maritime law, boating law, and jet ski accident claims, and may be able to help you and your family take the next steps after a jet ski accident.

Contact a Oneonta, New York Boating Accident Lawyer 

The Oneonta, New York boating accident lawyers at Stanley Law Offices are here to help you with your boating accident personal injury claims. If another person’s negligence or neglect on the water resulted in your injuries or a loved one’s injuries or death, you and your family may have the right to seek damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. You may only have a limited time to make a claim. Boating accident claims can differ from other motor vehicle claims because they involve maritime law and boating-specific safety requirements. Boaters may not always be insured, so the claims process might differ from other motor vehicle accident claims.

If you’ve been in a boating accident involving a certain amount of property damage, death, or injuries, you are required by law to report the accident. In general, it is a good idea to report all boating accidents, because some injuries may not always be apparent at the scene of the accident. Having a report of the accident can be helpful if you later need to make a boating accident claim.

The aftermath of a boating accident can be a stressful time. You don’t have to navigate the boating accident claims process alone. Reach out to the Oneonta, New York boating accident lawyer at Stanley Law Offices today.