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Boat Accidents Lawyer Kansas City

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Kansas is an excellent city for boating enthusiasts, as it offers many popular destinations, such as Blue Springs Lake, Longview Lake, Kill Creek Park, or Smithville Lake. Additionally, the city offers scenic landscapes, fishing opportunities, and recreational water sports. But the more boats, jet skis, or other watercraft on the water, the greater the risk of dangerous accidents.

In Missouri, 16 deaths and 111 injuries resulted from boating crashes, while Kansas recorded seven deaths and 21 injuries in 32 total crashes. Most boat accidents were related to alcohol and drug use or due to negligence. Boat accidents can cause many passenger injuries, including broken bones, contusions, lacerations, head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, electrocution, burns, internal injuries, unintentional drowning, or wrongful death.

Take Precautions

While on the water, safety should be your top priority. Always take safety measures before heading on a boat ride, such as:

  • Wear a life jacket
  • Follow the law
  • Keep a safe speed at all times
  • Avoid environmental hazards
  • Never operate a boat after consuming alcohol or let anyone operate the boat who has consumed alcohol
  • Keep a fire extinguisher on the boat in case of emergencies
  • Keep an eye on the weather forecast
  • Take a course on boating safety

How You Can Report a Boat Accident in Kansas City

If you have been involved in a boat accident in Kansas City, you must report the accident to the authorities. Not only are you required by municipal law to do so, but it could help when filing your injury claim. State law in Missouri cities states that all vessel operators involved in an accident must immediately report the accident to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. This also applies if someone goes missing, requires medical help, or loses consciousness.

If the boat accident has caused more than $500 worth of property damage, you must report it to the authorities. You will have a maximum of five days from the date of your boat accident to report the crash. However, if someone dies or suffers severe injuries, you must report the accident within 48 hours. Call *55 on your cellphone or 1-(800)-525-5555 for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Bear in mind that you must offer as much information as possible, so give your location, describe your emergency, and explain what assistance you need.

What Compensation Are You Entitled to?

Depending on the nature of the boat accident or the severity of your injuries, a boating accident can result in enormous costs. The injured boaters could face high medical expenses, ambulance costs, or wage loss. The ownership and operation of boats and ships in the United States are subject to federal, state, local, and maritime laws. These could be important when determining liability in the event of a boat accident. The most common vessels involved in boat accidents are personal watercraft, sailboats, yachts, cruise ships, cabin cruisers, pontoons, inflatable boats, or rented watercraft.

According to the United States Coast Guard, there were a reported 2,511 boating injuries in the U.S. in 2018, with the total property damage reaching nearly $46 million.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a boat accident due to someone’s negligent actions, you must seek legal help as soon as possible from a Kansas City boat accident attorney. Depending on your injuries, a boat accident attorney can secure you the rightfully deserved compensation, which may include:

  • Coverage of your medical expenses
  • Mental anguish
  • Property damage
  • Possible punitive damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Compensation for lost income

Proving Liability After a Boat Accident in Kansas City

If you or someone you love wishes to file a personal injury claim after being involved in a boat accident, the main elements that must be present are proof of negligent or reckless behavior. If you are found at complete fault for your injuries, you won’t be entitled to any compensation from another party.

Most boating accidents occur due to reckless or negligent behavior. When people onboard a boat suffer injuries in an accident, the boat’s owner or operator may be sued for negligence. Boat owners or operators can demonstrate negligence in many ways, including:

  • Speeding
  • Hiring inexperienced crew
  • Getting distracted
  • Boating under the influence
  • Lack of safety equipment
  • Colliding with other boats or objects
  • Overloading the vessel

In most cases, boating accidents occur due to defective parts, faulty design, or defective machinery. Later on, these can result in electrocution, fires, shocks, or other dangers. In such circumstances, you can file a claim against the boat owner or the defective product manufacturer. After all, manufacturers, retailers, or distributors are responsible for protecting consumer safety.

Why Should You Hire a Boat Accident in Kansas City?

Getting in touch with a boat accident attorney is the difference between getting the best possible compensation or getting none whatsoever. Once you schedule your free consultation at (816) 813-8256, we will start by listening to your boating accident story carefully. We will try to gather as much information as possible from your story, such as who else was involved or how the other party acted.

As your personal injury lawyer, we will help you understand your legal options, and we’ll handle the settlement negotiations on your behalf. If you decide to work with us, we will start the investigation process right away. We will revisit the crash site, and we’ll look at photos, contact and interview the witness, inspect the boat and get information about the other parties involved. Our boat accident lawyers will also gather both medical and police reports regarding your accident.

At RKB LAW, LLC, we will fight to obtain the best possible compensation for your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Whether your personal injuries occurred due to an accident on the water by boat, jet ski, or other watercraft, we will provide you with the necessary professional help needed. Schedule your free consultation at (816) 813-8256 as soon as possible, and let your voice be heard!

FAQs on Boat Accidents

What is the first thing to do when involved in a boating accident?

If you or someone you loved was involved in a boating accident, the first thing you should do is determine whether you or anyone else needs medical attention. If someone has fallen overboard, help the victim to get back on the boat as soon as possible. Then report your boat accident to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Under what circumstances do I need to file a boating accident report?

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Statistics Report: ‘Under federal regulations (33 CFR Part 173; Subpart C – Casualty and Accident Reporting) the operator of any numbered vessel that was not required to be inspected or a vessel that was used for recreational purposes is required to file a Boating Accident Report (BAR) when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment: a person dies, a person disappears from the vessel under the circumstances that indicate death or injury, a person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more; or there is a complete loss of any vessel.‘

Do boating accidents cause a lot of financial damage?

Yes, in 2007, the U.S. Coast Guard reported total damages of boating accidents at $53.1 million. You can improve your financial situation by hiring a professional boat accident lawyer and fighting for your case.