Altoona Boat Accident Lawyer

No one heads out for a day on Lake Altoona or the Juniata River planning to get in a boat accident, but it happens. Boat collisions and other accidents can quickly turn a day of fun into a tragedy. These accidents can lead to death and serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), amputations, lacerations, and spinal cord injuries.

Some accidents are just accidents, but others are the direct result of irresponsible or reckless behavior. If another operator’s negligence caused your boat accident, you may be legally entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and other expenses, such as loss of income or property damage, related to the incident. Contact our Altoona boat accident lawyer with Berger and Green for help seeking compensation from the at-fault operator through a personal injury claim.

What To Do if You Are in a Boat Accident in Altoona

The Pennsylvania Boating Handbook outlines what you are required to do as an operator after a boating accident. If it will not endanger you or your passengers, you must stop, render assistance, and identify yourself. You must notify the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission immediately if the accident results in a death or disappearance. You must file a Boating Accident Report Form:

• Within 48 hours if the accident results in a death, disappearance, or an injury that requires treatment beyond first aid
• Within 10 days if the accident results in property damage exceeding $2,000 or if there is a complete loss of a vessel

You should also seek medical attention, if necessary, after a boat accident. You may also wish to contact a boating accident lawyer in Altoona, PA. A lawyer who has handled boat accident cases like yours may be able to help you as you seek damages from the other boat operator and their insurance provider. 

Common Types of Boat Accidents in Altoona

To obtain damages from the other boat operator, you must demonstrate that they were negligent and that their negligence caused the accident. Just like car drivers must safely share the roads, boat operators must safely share the waterways and avoid putting people in their boat and other boats at risk. Some of the most common forms of negligence in boating our Altoona attorneys see include:

• Speeding, especially at night
• Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Operating a boat without proper experience 
• Failing to maintain a lookout 
• Failing to provide passengers with proper safety equipment 

Negligence can cause boats to collide and passengers to fall overboard and onboard. Any of these incidents can leave people hurt or dead, and the negligent boat operator may hold the blame.

How Much Is a Boat Accident Case Worth in Altoona?

It’s hard to say how much a boat accident case is worth without thoroughly investigating what happened to you and evaluating just what you have lost. We can document your losses and estimate their value, then help you seek compensation from the other boat operator through an out-of-court settlement or a court trial. You may be entitled to:

Economic Damages After a Boat Accident

Your tangible losses may be covered by economic damages for:

• Medical expenses including bills for current and anticipated care
• Home modifications to make your home accessible
• Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, motorized scooters, braces, walkers, and crutches
• Property damage for your boat’s repair or replacement 
• Loss of income including lost salary, wages, tips, and benefits 
• Future loss of income if you cannot return to your previous occupation temporarily or permanently

Noneconomic Damages After a Boat Accident

Your intangible losses may be covered by noneconomic damages if you:

• Lost a limb or other body part
• Sustained a TBI or spinal cord injury
• Became permanently disabled or disfigured
• Developed a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression
• Can no longer participate in activities or hobbies
• Endured a long and painful recovery
• Required multiple surgeries or other treatments

Wrongful Death Damages After a Boat Accident

If you lost a loved one in a boat accident, you may be able to recover:

• Medical bills for treatment your loved one received before passing away
• Burial and funeral expenses
• Estate administration expenses
• Loss of wages and benefits that your loved one would have earned had they survived 
• Loss of household services, society, comfort, and guidance that your loved one would have provided 

Trust in an Altoona boat accident attorney to help you determine your damages.

Legal Deadlines in an Altoona Boat Accident Case

If you decide to sue the boat operator responsible for your accident, you must file your lawsuit before the Pennsylvania deadline. Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 sets the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death at two years, which means that you have two years from the date of the accident or two years from the date your loved one passed away to file your lawsuit. 

The court will most likely refuse to hear your case if you let the statute of limitations pass. Our boat injury attorney in Altoona, PA, will review your case and determine how this law applies to your case. We will make sure that you can sue the responsible party before time runs out.

You Can Afford Legal Services at Berger and Green

At Berger and Green, we work on contingency, which means we charge no attorney fees unless we win your case. We offer risk-free, no-obligation case evaluations to people who have been hurt in boat accidents, car accidents, and other catastrophic incidents. 

You can call us, at no charge, for legal advice after a boat accident in Altoona. Our fees come from your trial verdict or settlement award, so you pay nothing out of pocket or upfront. With 40 years of experience, we are ready to work for you.

Contact Berger and Green for Assistance With Your Boat Accident Case

You may face steep bills for medical care, property damage, and loss of income after a boat accident caused by someone else. Contact Berger and Green today for more information about how one of our Altoona boat accident lawyers can help with your case. We may be able to help you recover the money you deserve.