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Milwaukee

Boating Accidents

What to do After a Boat Accident in Milwaukee

People love boating and using jet skis on the amazing lakes around Milwaukee. But a happy day out on the water with your family or friends can turn into a tragedy in an instant. If a speeding boat crashes into yours or a drunk boat operator capsizes the vessel that you’re on, you can suffer a life-changing injury.

What can you do when medical bills are pending, and you are out of work due to your injuries? You can call a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, boating accident lawyer and file a personal injury claim against the person who injured you.

Warshafsky Law Firm is a personal injury law firm known for taking cases to trial and winning. Our tough reputation helps us negotiate large settlements from insurance companies. If you were hurt in a boating accident in Wisconsin, don’t delay. Contact Warshafsky Law Firm for your free consultation today.

Milwaukee Boat Accident Settlement & Judgment Amounts

$250,000 Milwaukee Boat Accident Settlement

Boating Accidents in Wisconsin

Boating accidents in Wisconsin happen for a variety of reasons. In the Wisconsin Boating Fatal Accident Summary, the types of accidents that cause injuries listed include slip and fall accidents, drownings, carbon monoxide poisoning, and sinkings. Often, the victims were not wearing life jackets.

The most common reasons for a boating accident in Wisconsin include:

  • Inattention: When the boat operator is distracted or not keeping a proper lookout, they run a much higher risk of colliding with a pier or another boat or jet ski. This is one of the most common causes of boating accidents.
  • Speed: When a boat is going too fast for the conditions or visibility is low, then high speed can leave the boat operator without enough time to react if something goes wrong.
  • Recklessness: According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, boating recklessly is one of the leading causes of fatal boating accidents.
  • Malfunctioning Equipment: If equipment is defective or the boat operator fails to maintain it, it can fail while on the water. The operator could lose control of the steering or be unable to stop the boat.
  • Alcohol: Too many people take boating under the influence casually, but it’s a major cause of accidents. Alcohol slows down your reaction time, makes you clumsier, and interferes with your judgment. Operating a boat with a BAC of over .08 percent is illegal.
  • Inexperience: Not everyone has enough experience to safely operate a boat without supervision.
  • Overloading: Trying to fit too many people on a boat can cause the boat to capsize or maneuver badly, leading to an accident.
  • Bad Weather: Boating in bad weather can expose you to strong winds, poor visibility, and other hazards that can cause an accident.

Avoiding a Boating Accident

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recommends the following safety tips to avoid an accident while boating or using a jet ski:

  • Always wear a life jacket. Fatal boating accidents often involve a simple slip and fall.
  • Take a boating safety course before you go out for the first time.
  • Never operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Ensure that your boat has a life jacket for each person on board, a throwable flotation device, a fire extinguisher, working boat lights, a cellphone, flares, maps, and a first aid kit.
  • Pay close attention to the weather and bring a radio to monitor weather reports.
  • Tell somebody where you are going and when to expect you back.
  • Do not start your boat’s engine if you smell fumes.
  • Open hatches and run your boat’s blower before you set out.
  • Avoid overloading the boat with passengers or gear. You can find the boat’s capacity listed on a plate near the boat operator’s station.
  • Don’t allow passengers to ride outside the safety rails, on the gunwales, or on top of seatbacks.
  • When you leave the boat launch, go slowly with no wake until you are a safe distance from the launch.
  • Follow all boating rules and regulations.

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Steps to Take After a Boating Accident in Wisconsin

After a boating accident in Wisconsin, here’s what you should do to handle the situation properly:

  • Make sure everyone is safe.
  • Call 911 to summon assistance and emergency medical personnel.
  • Provide first aid to anyone who needs it.
  • Take photos or videos to document the accident, property damage, and injuries.
  • Exchange information with everyone who was involved in the accident or witnessed it.
  • Seek prompt medical attention.
  • File any required boating accident reports.
  • Let your insurance company know that you were in a boating accident. Tell them the basic facts without speculating about what happened or who was at fault.
  • Contact a Wisconsin boating accident lawyer.

Filing an Accident Report

Wisconsin law requires you to file a boating accident report within 10 days if:

  • Anyone died in the accident
  • Anyone was injured severely enough to require medical help beyond first aid
  • There was property damage of over $2,000
  • The boat was lost

The Department of Natural Resources provides accident report forms that require the inclusion of information such as:

  • The date, time, and location of the accident
  • The registration numbers and names of the boats
  • Information about the boat operator
  • Weather conditions
  • Cause of the accident
  • The nature and extent of any injuries and information about the injured parties
  • Information about any witnesses

Seeking Compensation After a Boating Accident

If you were injured in a boating accident in Wisconsin due to another person’s negligence or misconduct, you may be dealing with a growing stack of medical bills, a seemingly endless list of appointments, missed time at work along with missing income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

 

You shouldn’t have to face your troubles alone. By filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the person who hurt you or their insurer, you can recover compensation for losses such as:

  • Medical expenses, including your emergency room bills, diagnostic testing, medication, physical and occupational therapy, and any ongoing nursing care
  • Lost income, including lost wages and salary, commissions, promotions, or raises you can no longer expect to receive, and diminished future earning capacity
  • Physical disfigurement
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress

A skilled personal injury lawyer can help you maximize the compensation you can receive for your boating accident injuries. This is particularly important because Wisconsin does not require most boat owners to carry insurance. Your lawyer can investigate avenues to secure the compensation you need.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

You have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under the Wisconsin statute of limitations. If you fail to file your lawsuit within three years, the judge will most likely throw your case out of court. This is more likely to happen than you may realize, as the insurance company may do everything possible to delay your claim’s resolution. Hiring an aggressive lawyer ready to take on the insurance company is the best way to get real leverage in the negotiations.

Contact a Milwaukee, Wisconsin Boating Accident Lawyer Today

If you were hurt in a Wisconsin boating accident, or if your loved one lost their life, don’t delay another day. Contact a Milwaukee boating accident lawyer at Warshafsky Law Firm immediately. Here are some of the reasons you should hire us to represent you in your personal injury or wrongful death case:

  • We will meet with you and evaluate your case at no charge.
  • We work on contingency, so we don’t get paid unless you win.
  • Experienced personal injury lawyers will handle every aspect of your case.
  • We have an impressive track record of winning significant compensation.

Contact Warshafsky Law Firm today for your free consultation.

FAQ

Milwaukee Boat Accident FAQ

After getting everyone out of the water and tending to basic injuries, it’s important to call law enforcement immediately. You should then gather information, like photos, videos, and eyewitness testimony. These will help your case once you contact an experienced accident attorney.
If you were injured or suffered boat or property damage in excess of 2,000, you should not only report the accident but hire a lawyer. A lawyer will help you navigate the insurance process and fight for the best possible settlement.
Operator error is the leading cause of boating accidents. In rare cases, other passengers or the boat’s designer/manufacturer can be found liable.
The most common boat accident is when two vessels collide. Boat accidents can also occur due to grounding, collision with a fixed object, flooding, falls overboard, capsizing, fires, and more.
If you were injured as a passenger on somebody’s boat, you may be able to file a claim against them. A person is liable for the injuries they caused while operating a vessel. Warshafsky won a $250,000 dollar boating accident case that resulted in a passenger needing an amputation.
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