Whether used for recreational or commercial purposes, boats are powerful machines that demand skillful handling and close attention to local regulations. Even in perfectly calm weather, it is very easy for a maritime worker or recreational boater in Trinity Bay, Galveston Bay, Burnet Bay, or other bodies of water to be seriously injured, or even become the victim of wrongful death.
If you, your spouse, or a family member was hurt in a Houston boating accident, you are urged to contact Queenan Law for a free consultation regarding your possible personal injury claim, workers’ compensation claim, or other matter. Our dedicated and knowledgeable boat crash injury lawyers have more than 20 years of experience handling complex claims related to maritime law, including claims under the Jones Act. Call our law offices as soon as possible at (817) 476-1797 for your free legal consultation.
Boat Accident Statistics on Fatal Crashes
The U.S. Coast Guard publishes statistics on injuries and fatalities caused by recreational boating. According to a recent statistical report prepared by the Coast Guard, there were 4,064 boating accidents reported in 2014, collectively leading to more than 2,670 injuries, and, tragically, more than 600 deaths.
According to the same report, “Where data was known, the most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (17%), and cabin motorboats (15%).” Additionally, “Where data was known, the vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (47%), canoes (13%), and kayaks (10%).”
Yet it is not only recreational boaters who are in danger on the water. The following data on industrial ship-related fatalities is sourced from a 2014 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Ship and Boat Building Industry – 7 fatalities
- Ship Building and Repairing – 5 fatalities
- Water Transportation Industry – 9 fatalities
- Deep Sea and Coastal Water Transportation – 7 fatalities
- Deep Sea Freight Transportation – 4 fatalities
- Deep Sea Passenger Transportation – 1 fatality
Though some vessels are larger or feature more complex equipment than others, all boats have the potential to run aground, collide with other vessels, or become involved in other types of vehicular accidents on the water. Injuries can also occur on recreational or commercial vessels due to hazards such as:
- Defective Equipment and Machinery
- Defective Safety Gear
- Fatigue
- Inexperience
- Intoxication
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Unenforced Safety Regulations
How Much Compensation is Available for a Boat Accident Victim in Texas?
Depending on the circumstances under which the accident occurred, compensation for various losses and expenses may be available for:
- Survivors of non-fatal boat-related injuries.
- Surviving spouses and/or family members of wrongful death victims who were killed in fatal boating or drowning accidents.
In addition to expenses which have already been incurred, compensation may also be available for expenses and losses which are expected to arise in the future. For instance, a person whose injuries create long-term or permanent disability may be able to get compensated for the reduction to their future earning capacity. To provide some other examples, compensation may be available for:
- Funeral Expenses
- Hospital Admissions
- Lost Benefits
- Lost Earnings (Income/Wages/Salary)
- Medical Devices
- Pain and Suffering
- Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement
- Prosthetic Devices
- Stitches and Sutures
- Surgery
The amount of compensation that is available to a boating injury victim will depend on the intersection of factors that are unique to each claim, which is one of the reasons it is so important to review your case with a knowledgeable attorney who can provide you with clear and straightforward answers. Though every case is unique, and requires a tailored legal strategy, one factor remains the same: the Houston boat injury lawyers of Queenan Law always fight for the maximum compensation on behalf of our clients.
Contact Our Houston Boating Injury Lawyers to Discuss Your Claim or Lawsuit
The attorneys of Queenan Law possess over 20 years of experience handling complex maritime injury claims in Houston, Fort Worth, and Arlington. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we are highly familiar with the causes of, and complications that can result from, many types of serious injuries. Boat-related injuries our law firm handles include:
- Ankle Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Bone Fractures/Broken Bones
- Concussions (Mild TBI, MTBI)
- Crush Injuries
- Cuts/Lacerations
- Dislocation Injuries
- Drowning Accidents
- Ear Injuries/Hearing Loss
- Eye Injuries/Vision Loss
- Facial Injuries
- Foot Injuries
- Hand Injuries
- Hypothermia
- Paralysis
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
- Sprain Injuries (Torn Ligaments)
- Strain Injuries (Torn Muscles)
- Submersion Injuries
- Traumatic Amputation Injuries/Loss of Limb
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Wrist Injuries
If you or a loved one was injured in a Texas boating accident that you suspect was caused by negligence, recklessness, or a defective boat part or product, please do not hesitate to contact Queenan Law for a free and friendly review of your legal matter. There are no “bad” questions – we are here to help. To set up your free consultation, call our law offices at (817) 476-1797 today.