Kirkland Boat Accident Lawyer

Kirkland is a great place to take the boat out and have some fun on Lake Washington. Sadly, too many people choose to operate their boats negligently and without consideration for other’s safety. If you were hurt by a negligent boater, you deserve to seek compensation for those injuries with help from a reliable civil attorney. These cases are complicated, so working with a Kirkland boat accident lawyer who is familiar with the area and these types of claims could help you recover the compensation you are owed.

When Should Someone File a Boat Wreck Claim?

If someone suffers serious harm by someone operating a watercraft, the injured party has the right to file a boat accident claim against the negligent party. Importantly, the watercraft does not need to be a boat for someone to file a civil claim. Watercrafts can include jet skis, canoes, yachts, and much more.

Accidents on the water are dangerous and require an attorney with unique knowledge on how to handle these claims. Depending on what body of water the watercraft accident occurred, special laws may apply that differ from ordinary cases, making working with a talented Kirkland lawyer essential.

Proving Boater Negligence After an Accident

Boat operators are expected to follow boating laws and navigate their crafts safely in order to avoid causing harm to others. Other boaters, passengers, and those on docks and shores that are injured by a negligent watercraft operator have the legal right to file a claim for damages.

However, the injured party must prove that the person who caused the accident was negligent in doing so. This requires proving that the other boater deviated from the reasonable standard of care in some manner. Common examples of negligence in boating accidents includes, but are not limited to:

• Violating any speed limits
• Striking other boats, the dock, or shore
• Failing to provide sufficient safety equipment
• Boating while intoxicated
• Making dangerous wakes
• Traveling through a swim only zone

These examples of negligent conduct and many others could create civil liability for a boater. A capable personal injury attorney knows how to investigate and prove a boat accident claim in Kirkland.

Benefit of Having a Kirkland Attorney

After an accident occurs, it is critical to begin investigating what happened as quickly as possible. The longer an injured person waits to bring their case to an attorney’s attention, the more evidence that is likely to be lost to the passage of time. This is especially true in cases stemming from accidents on the water, as essential evidence can become lost in the water.

A dedicated boat wreck attorney in Kirkland may investigate the claim by looking into:

• Law enforcement reports or narratives
• Testimony of eyewitnesses
• Any recordings of the incident
• Insurance reports
• Depositions of parties and witnesses
• Accident reconstruction techniques

By enlisting the services of a seasoned lawyer early in the case, the injured party can focus on healing from their accident while the attorney focuses on investigating and gathering evidence to prove defendant fault.

Seek Guidance from a Kirkland Boat Accident Attorney

Accidents on the water require the attention and experience of a talented attorney who has successfully navigated similar cases in the past. By working with a Kirkland boat accident lawyer, you can focus on your physical recovery while your attorney attends to your financial recovery. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we could help you.