If you were injured on a boat, personal watercraft, or jet ski because someone acted carelessly, you may have a claim for compensation. A boating accident lawyer in Harwood Heights can review the incident, identify available insurance coverage, and determine who may be responsible under Illinois law.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., has served injured clients since 2002 and has recovered more than $100 million. We provide direct, responsive legal service to people dealing with serious injuries and insurance claims.
Choose Charlie. Contact us for a free consultation with a Harwood Heights personal injury lawyer to discuss what happened.
Boating Accidents We Handle
Our firm handles claims involving recreational boats and personal watercraft, including jet skis. These incidents may happen on lakes, rivers, or other waterways even when the injured person lives in Harwood Heights.
We may assist after accidents involving:
- Collisions between recreational boats.
- Jet ski and personal watercraft crashes.
- Boats striking docks, fixed objects, or other vessels.
- Passengers being thrown from a vessel.
- Propeller injuries.
- Falls caused by unsafe operation.
- Accidents involving intoxicated operators.
- Swimmers or passengers struck by watercraft.
A Harwood Heights boating accident attorney can examine the circumstances and determine whether another operator, boat owner, or other party may be legally responsible.
When a Boat Operator May Be Liable
Boat operators have a responsibility to operate their vessels with reasonable care. A claim may arise when an operator ignores basic safety rules or handles a boat in a way that puts passengers or others on the water at risk.
Examples may include:
Failing to Keep a Proper Lookout
Operators need to watch for other vessels, swimmers, docks, changing traffic, and other hazards. Failing to pay attention can lead to collisions that could have been avoided.
Operating at an Unsafe Speed
The right speed depends on visibility, traffic, weather, and water conditions. Excessive speed can reduce reaction time and increase the force of impact.
Boating Under the Influence
Illinois law prohibits operating a watercraft while impaired by alcohol or drugs. In personal injury or fatal boating accidents, state law also contains provisions concerning chemical testing when an operator is arrested for a qualifying violation.
Unsafe Passenger Conduct
An operator may also create unnecessary risk by allowing passengers to sit or stand in unsafe areas, overloading the vessel, or operating in a way that causes someone to fall or be ejected.
Who Else Can Be Held Responsible for a Boating Injury?
The operator who caused the collision may be responsible, but ownership and control can also affect a claim. We look at who was operating the vessel, who owned it, why the person was using it, and whether another business was involved.
Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include:
- A negligent boat operator.
- A negligent jet ski operator.
- The vessel owner in qualifying circumstances.
- A rental business when its own negligent conduct contributed to the accident.
- An employer when an employee caused the incident while performing work duties.
- Another person or business whose negligence contributed to the injury.
We do not assume liability based only on who was present. Our boating accident attorneys in Harwood Heights review the evidence and applicable law before identifying the parties that may be responsible.
Compensation After a Boating Accident
The value of a claim depends on your injuries, treatment, recovery, work limitations, and the available evidence. A Harwood Heights boating accident lawyer can document both current losses and reasonably anticipated future losses related to the accident.
Compensation may be available for:
- Emergency medical care.
- Hospitalization and surgery.
- Rehabilitation and therapy.
- Future medical treatment.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning ability.
- Pain and suffering.
- Disability.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Damage to personal property.
If a boating accident results in death, eligible family members may have rights under Illinois wrongful death law.
What If More Than One Person Was at Fault?
Boating accidents do not always have a single cause. Two operators may have made mistakes, or an injured passenger may be accused of contributing to the incident.
Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence rule in many personal injury cases. If you are found more than 50% responsible for your injuries, you generally cannot recover damages. If your share of fault is 50% or less, your recovery may be reduced by that percentage.
Insurance companies may rely on this rule when trying to shift blame. Our legal team examines the evidence before accepting any allocation of fault.
Insurance Issues in Recreational Boating Claims
Boat insurance is not always structured the same way as auto insurance. Coverage may depend on who owned the vessel, who had permission to operate it, the type of watercraft involved, and the terms of the policy.
Rental agreements can create additional questions when a boat or jet ski was rented rather than privately owned.
Our boating injury lawyers in Harwood Heights can identify potentially applicable policies, review coverage issues, and communicate with insurers for you.
Why Work With Our Harwood Heights Boating Accident Lawyers?
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., is a boutique firm built around personal client service. We want you to be able to reach your legal team, receive clear answers, and understand how your case is progressing.
Our clients also benefit from:
- More than 75 years of combined legal experience.
- More than $100 million recovered for clients.
- A founding partner with previous experience working on the insurance side for Allstate.
- Direct assistance with insurer communications.
- Relationships with medical providers who may accept qualifying patients on liens.
- Free consultations, including Zoom meetings.
- Electronic options for submitting documents and communicating with our office.
- Contingency-fee representation, so you do not pay attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.
Our experience with insurers helps us anticipate the arguments they may use when questioning liability, injuries, or the amount of compensation being sought.
Discuss Your Case With a Harwood Heights Boating Injury Attorney
Boating accident claims can involve questions about liability, insurance coverage, and the extent of your losses. Our legal team can review the facts, identify the parties and policies involved, and explain the options available under Illinois law.
Contact Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. for a free consultation with a boating accident attorney in Harwood Heights.
