Boating is a treasured hobby for many, especially during warmer months. But when accidents occur, people can be badly hurt. A Gurnee personal injury lawyer with experience in boating accidents can advise you if you were injured because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness.
Our Gurnee boating accident lawyers at Therman Law may be able to help you claim a substantial settlement towards your recovery. Our law firm has been helping accident victims since 2002, and we would be proud to help you, too.
Categories of Damages We Can Consider Claiming After a Boat Accident
When you or your loved one has been involved in a boating accident, you experience financial, physical, and emotional hardship. If you were not to blame, you can seek a settlement to help you rebuild your life.
It consists of several categories of damages that may include:
- Medical costs, including longer-term treatment
- Lost earnings while you are unable to work
- Emotional distress, anguish, or trauma
- Pain and suffering compensation
Sadly, drowning deaths are a real risk in boating accidents, and this damage is irreparable. However, our Gurnee wrongful death lawyer can help you claim a settlement that softens the financial blow. In all instances, when an accident is caused by gross negligence, punitive damages may be appropriate.
How Your Boating Accident Lawyer in Gurnee Investigates Your Case
Although boat accidents are similar to car accidents in many ways, proving who is at fault requires greater skill. Nevertheless, our experience helps us gather and analyze all the evidence supporting your claim.
When boat accidents result in injuries, it is crucial to call 911. Police will look into potential boat safety violations, formulate an accident report, and gather witness statements. We will examine these documents in detail and seek further evidence.
In line with Illinois’s modified comparative negligence principle, you cannot claim compensation if you are found to be 50% or more at fault. When you are less than 50% at fault, your settlement is reduced by your share of the blame. Therman Law will seek evidence that helps maximize your claim.
Parties that May Be Liable in Boating Accidents
Determining liability is not always as easy as it may seem. Your boating accident attorney in Gurnee knows that several parties other than those directly involved in the accident itself may be liable.
For example, boat hire companies do not always keep their boats in safe condition. In this case, they may bear or share liability.
Typical causes of boat accidents include:
- Speeding or failing to follow navigation rules
- Distraction or inattention
- Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Mechanical or structural failure
In instances in which equipment or mechanical failure caused the accident, it is not the boat owner’s fault because the equipment was defective. This may point toward a company that undertook maintenance on the boat, or it could even be the manufacturer’s fault.
Advice on How You Can Help Us Recover Fair Compensation for You
First and foremost, follow your treatment plan and instructions from your doctors. If you experience symptoms in the days or weeks following your accident, see a doctor immediately. Our Gurnee brain injury lawyer has often witnessed cases in which the real damage only becomes apparent later on.
If you do not take good care of yourself after an accident, insurance adjusters may argue that you made your injuries worse. If you report injuries late, they may say that your injury was not caused by the accident at all.
Refrain from posting information about your accident on social media, and do not talk to insurance adjusters. Refer them to your lawyer, even if they present an attractive early settlement. They are almost certainly trying to save money by offering you less than your lawyer can help you get.
Following a Path Toward Fair Compensation with Your Gurnee Boating Accident Attorney
The process begins when you meet us for your free case evaluation. Bring all the evidence and documents related to your accident that you can. Once we agree to take your case, we will explain our no-win-no-fee agreement so you can confidently move forward.
After completing our investigations, we will collect all the supporting documentation and file for a settlement. Insurance companies representing the liable party or parties will generally raise some objections to our claims. We will use case law to show precedents supporting the amounts we claim and negotiate with them.
If they offer an acceptable settlement, we will advise you of this, but if we believe you deserve much more, we will suggest that you proceed with litigation. Should you agree, we will represent you in court, presenting a strong case for your compensation claim.
Boating Accident Claims May Take Time to Achieve a Fair Settlement
It can be difficult to tell how long it takes to get a fair settlement. It could be a matter of a few months, or it could take a year—and occasionally even longer. The larger the claim, the more likely we are to encounter opposition. Giving in early can be extremely costly if you have a large claim.
For some families, waiting for fair compensation is stressful because they have financial needs. However, you should not allow short-term needs to stand in the way of your longer-term well-being. Do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with us.
Contact Us About Your Boating Accident as Soon as You are Able
One way you can improve your chances of getting compensation is to begin immediately. Your lawyer will also have an easier time finding evidence while it is fresh and can set the claim process in motion sooner.
At Therman Law, we have over 75 years of combined experience, meaning our team has what it takes to be your boating accident lawyers in Gurnee.
We will not charge you any fees unless you win. There is no reason to hesitate and every reason to claim your free consultation right away.