Chicago Boating Accident Lawyer

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If you were injured in a boat accident, you may be entitled to recover damages. Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you fight back. Contact our Chicago boating accident lawyers. You can call (312) 929-2884 to discover how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

When you trust Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers, you benefit from one of the best personal injury law firms in Chicago with 30+ years of combined experience. Since our founding in 2011, we’ve helped boat accident victims, grieving families, and other clients win tens of millions in settlements and jury awards.

Contact us today to discover the benefits of working with our top-rated team of litigators. Your first consultation is free.

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How Our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Boat Accident

Why and how did your boat accident happen? Who’s at fault? What happens if more than one party is to blame? How can you be sure that an insurance company’s settlement offer is fair? What if they try to limit your payout by blaming you?

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are ready to tackle these important issues for you.

Take this time and opportunity to focus on recovering and getting your life back on track. Let us handle the ins and outs of your legal claim and fight to get you the monetary award you deserve.

Count on us to:

Carefully investigate the details of your boat accident
Review the results of investigations conducted by local, state, and/or federal government authorities
Analyze vessel maintenance records, toxicology reports, operator records, accident reports, vessel damage, photographs, video recordings, medical records, and other evidence that could help us build a strong claim for damages on your behalf
Find and interview witnesses to the boat accident
Bring in boating specialists and experts to provide insight into your case
Fight back against claims of shared responsibility that could jeopardize a financial recovery
Aggressively pursue a maximum settlement during negotiations
File a lawsuit with the local court and advocate for a life-changing verdict at trial, if necessary

When you choose Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers, there’s no out-of-pocket cost for legal representation. Our boat accident attorneys in Chicago only get paid if we win your case. Call our law office in Chicago, IL to get started with a free case assessment today.

Illinois Boating Accident Statistics

There’s no shortage of rivers, lakes, streams, and other waterways in Illinois. This is particularly true in the Chicago area, where Lake Michigan, Rend Lake, the Chain O’Lakes Waterway, Lake Sara, Maple Lake, and other bodies of water are within a stone’s throw.

This makes boating incredibly popular in Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois. In fact, in 2021, 188,086 vessels were registered with the state. However, boating can be dangerous, as is evidenced by Illinois boating accident statistics.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, 93 boat accidents were reported statewide between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.

That’s nearly 2 boat accidents a week.

This marked a significant increase in boat accidents in recent years. 2018 saw 68 boat accidents, 2019 had a total of 72 wrecks, and 81 boat accidents were recorded in 2020.

Despite the rise in accidents, fatalities declined in 2021. That year, 16 were killed. By contrast, in 2020, 21 boat accidents were fatal.

Decades of Experience Representing Clients After All Types of Boat Accidents in Chicago

Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers advocates for clients who have been involved in all types of boat accidents in Chicago, including:

Motorboat accidents
Sailboat accidents
Kayak accidents
Canoe accidents
Fishing boat accidents
Tour boat accidents
Sightseeing boat accidents
Rental boat accidents
Commercial boat accidents
Fatal boat accidents

Put our experience to work for you. Call our law office in Chicago to learn more about the benefits of working with our accomplished legal team today.

What Are the Leading Causes of Boat Accidents?

According to Illinois statistics, the leading causes of boat accidents include:

Operator inattention
Improper lookout
Restricted vision
Passenger negligence
Drug and alcohol use
Speeding
Operator inexperience
Safety regulation violations
Equipment failure
Congested waters
Careless operation

Ultimately, operator negligence is the primary cause of most boat accidents in Chicago. The chance of an accident occurring increases significantly when an operator is drunk, distracted, inexperienced, or too aggressive at the helm.

Who’s Liable For My Boat Accident and Resulting Injuries?

Illinois law provides that anyone contributing to a boat accident, whether directly or indirectly, can be liable for the resulting damages.

While the specific facts of your case will determine liability, responsible parties could potentially include:

Negligent boat operators
Boat passengers
Boat rental companies
Employers of negligent operators
Boat mechanics
Boat manufacturers
Government agencies

Our boat accident attorneys in Chicago will carefully evaluate your situation to identify all potentially liable parties. Once we know who’s at fault, we won’t stop until they’re held accountable.

Can I Get Compensation If I’m Partly at Fault for an Illinois Boat Accident?

You can recover compensation for injuries sustained in a boat accident as long as you’re not primarily at fault.

Illinois has a strict 51 percent bar to recovery under its modified comparative negligence law.

Sharing some – but not most – of the blame for a boat accident will lead to a reduction in damages.

Let’s say you’re injured in a boat accident on Lake Michigan and suffer damages worth $200,000. You’re assigned half of the blame for the accident. As a result, your financial settlement or jury award will be limited to $100,000.

Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers will work hard to defend you against any efforts to shift blame or limit your liability. We’ll demand hard proof of claims of shared fault and work to downplay your role in the accident.

What Damages Are Available to Chicago Boat Accident Victims?

When you file a claim for insurance benefits or a boat accident lawsuit, you’ll be able to seek recovery of compensatory damages.

Compensatory damages include:

Economic damages to account for the costs and burdens related to your boat accident, and
Non-economic damages to make up for the suffering and trauma you experience as a victim.

Through a successful claim, you can potentially get money for:

Current costs of medical care and treatment
Future medical bills
Lost wages and earnings
Disability
Property damage
Nursing care
Funeral expenses
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of consortium
Disfigurement
Physical scarring
Reduced quality of life
Embarrassment

Punitive damages can also be sought if your boat accident lawsuit goes to trial. However, under Illinois law, a jury must find by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions exhibited a conscious disregard for your safety or were intentional.

Common Boat Accident Injuries

Boat accidents are particularly dangerous, thanks to the fact that they tend to take place out on the open water.

This puts victims at risk of suffering a wide range of injuries, including:

Drowning
Hypothermia
Hypoxia
Brain injury
Complete or partial amputation
Degloving injury
Severe burns
Nerve damage
Back injury
Neck injury
Spinal cord injury
Paralysis
Soft tissue injury
Cuts and lacerations
Catastrophic injury
Wrongful death

Always seek emergency medical treatment after an accident on a boat in Chicago. Some injuries – particularly internal bleeding or other internal trauma – might not be evident right away. Prompt care can help to ensure that all of your injuries are diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

What’s the Statute of Limitations for Illinois Boat Accident Lawsuits?

A two-year statute of limitations will typically apply to boat accident lawsuits in Illinois.

So, you’ll have until the second anniversary of your boat accident or the date of a loved one’s wrongful death to seek damages for related costs and suffering.

You give up the right to take legal action once the deadline expires.

Don’t let that happen. Give yourself the edge you need to win your case by calling Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers for help right away.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Respected Chicago Boating Accident Attorney

Put yourself in the position to maximize your financial recovery by calling Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers for help after a boat accident in Chicago, Illinois.

Our Chicago boating accident lawyers have 30+ years of combined experience handling tough personal injury cases like yours. Our reputation as fierce and successful trial attorneys is well known throughout Chicago. You’ll show the insurance company that you’re serious about getting the payout you deserve.

Contact our Chicago law office at (312) 929 2884 to get started. A member of our legal team is always available to take your call and schedule your free consultation.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Chicago, IL

Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers
Address:
134 N La Salle St #2160
Chicago, IL 60602

Phone:
(312) 929-2884

Business Hours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Our personal injury law firm in Chicago, IL, also provides: