Recreational boating has become an increasingly popular activity at sea, on rivers and in lakes. Boaters enjoy water sports, fishing and time in the open air. However, many boaters in Rhode Island are inexperienced at navigating waterways or are confused of the many laws, rules and regulations governing safe boating behaviors. Because of that, there has been a significant rise in the number of boating accidents in Rhode Island. If you were injured in a boat accident in Rhode Island (including Newport, Tiverton, East Greenwich, Portsmouth, Providence) call one of the best Rhode Island personal injury lawyers.
Boat accident in Rhode Island
Like the nation’s highways, many vessels on our country waterways and open waters encounter boaters impaired by alcohol and drugs causing many drunk boat accidents with injuries and fatalities. Operating a vessel in Rhode Island (RI) while impaired is a serious crime, just like drunk driving an automobile. In many incidences, innocent victims suffer catastrophic injuries because of the drunken, reckless and negligent behavior of others on the water.
The Legal Limit in Rhode Island
The operators or captains of motor boats, charter fishing vessels, sailboats or other watercrafts are given absolute responsibility to keep every on board passenger safe from harm. Boaters in Rhode Island, just like motorists on the highway, are not allowed to operate any water vessel with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. When caught, a drunken boater can be arrested for intoxication and charged with BWI (boating while intoxicated). In addition, the boater is legally responsible for the drunk boat accident caused by their alcohol use and negligence.
Statistics maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard indicate that alcohol remains a leading cause of many fatal boat accidents. The data suggest that one out of every six wrongful deaths involving boats is associated with alcohol. The statistics also show that the most common vessels associated with boat accidents include cabin motorboats, personal watercraft, open motorboats and speedboats.
Serious Injuries and Death in Rhode Island motor boat accident
Operating a boat in Newport, Bristol or East Greenwich RI while intoxicated beyond the legal limit can cause significant impairment to the point where accidents will occur. The most common types of a Rhode Island accidents on open water include ramming other vessels or objects, running aground, capsizing, turning propeller injuries, diving accident, inattention of others in the water, jet ski accident, dock accident and sinking. The leading injuries and fatalities involved in drunk boat accidents in Rhode island and Providence Plantations include:
• Drowning and near drowning
• Brain and head trauma
• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Severed limbs from turning propellers
• All kinds of bodily injuries
• Wrongful death
A Claim for Compensation In Newport Superior Court or Kent County Superior Court
To obtain compensation from every party at fault, the victim must substantiate their claim by proving how others caused the accident. However, the aftermath of most drunk boat accidents are traumatic. Holding those legally responsible usually requires the skills of a competent Rhode Island personal injury attorney with comprehensive experience in boating and maritime laws.
Hiring a RI boating crash lawyer is beneficial. The Tiverton, Middletown or Barrington law firm can gather evidence from the crash and determine if the other driver was impaired, their level of intoxication, and amount of responsibility for causing the accident with injuries. If the level of intoxication of the boater does not surpass legal limits, a competent Rhode Island boat accident attorney can determine if the operator was distracted or acting recklessly by not following right-of-way rules, waterway traffic lanes or posted speed limits.
Fatal Drunk Boat accident in Rhode Island
If a spouse, loved one, sibling, brother, sister, parent or loved one was killed as a result of a fatal motorboat accident or fatal boat collision then you should seek a RI wrongful death lawyer. Preferably, your Rhode Island wrongful death attorney will have experience in deadly boating crashes.
The Statute of Limitations for Motorboat or Jet ski collisions in Rhode Island
A skilled RI Injury attorney will file all necessary paperwork before the statute of limitations expires. The law firm can calculate all accident-related expenses generated now and required in the future. This is important because most drunken boating accidents in Rhode Island produce lifelong effects on the victim’s financial, physical and emotional well-being. If a drunken boater has injured you, or a loved one, you are likely experiencing irreparable damage to your life and livelihood. An aggressive RI boating crash victim’s attorney can assist you in resolving your claim for compensation to ensure you receive the amount of compensation you deserve.