If you’ve been in a boating accident or you’re the victim of a boating accident, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention. The second step is to contact law enforcement and file a police report. After filing the police report, you should take photos of the damage, fill out your insurance claim, and get the responsible party’s insurance information. These steps are crucial to being able to claim compensation for your damages and injuries.
Get Medical Attention/Treatment
If you are injured in a boating accident, the first thing you should do is assess the extent of your injuries. Once you know what is wrong, it will be easier to decide what steps to take next.
If you are injured, do not try to drive yourself to the hospital. Drive only if you are absolutely necessary and then call a friend or family member to come and get you. Even if you have insurance, it is often helpful to have someone with you who can help document your injuries. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Boating accidents can cause injuries that can take weeks, or even months, to heal. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, your injuries may become worse.
Contact Law Enforcement
Law enforcement is responsible for investigating boating accidents and making sure that everyone involved is safe. You should call the police right away after you’re injured and stay on the phone with them until they arrive.
If you were one of the victims, call 911 and tell them your name and how many people were involved in the accident. Tell them where you were when the accident occurred and give them as much information as you can about what happened. If it happened in a body of water like a river, lake, or pond, tell them how far from shore you were when it happened.
When contacting law enforcement, make sure that you list the names of each person involved and their relationship to you and the other person involved in the accident. Give them as much information as you can about how this accident happened, who was at fault, and who was responsible for the damage.
File A Police Report
After law enforcement arrives at the scene of the boating accident, they’ll take photos and take statements from anyone involved who was hurt in the accident. They’ll also take photos of all the damage that was done to your boat and of any injuries that occurred on board your boat during the accident. These photos are very important because they’ll be used in court if you end up suing someone for damages caused by their negligence. The photos will also be used to prove that the boat was damaged beyond repair and that it can’t be used for commercial purposes anymore.
Once law enforcement has completed their investigation, they’ll prepare their report for filing with the court. They’ll give a copy of this report to everyone involved in the accident, including your insurance company. You should get a copy of this report so that you can use it as evidence if you ever have to sue for damages caused by negligence.
Take Photos of the Damage
If your boat is damaged beyond repair and it can’t be used for commercial purposes anymore, law enforcement may ask you to take photos of all of the damage so they know exactly what they’re dealing with. Take photos of all of the damage that was done to your boat, which includes:
- The hull of your boat
- The propeller extension on your boat
- Any docks that your boat hit during the accident (if there were docks)
- Any dings on any trailer or other equipment that your boat hit during the accident (if there were other vehicles involved)
Take photos of any injuries that were caused by your boat during the accident—including bruises, cuts, scrapes, or broken bones—and all blood or other fluids that came from these injuries. If you’re one of the victims and law enforcement has taken your statement, take photos of everything they asked you about because they’ll refer to these photos when filing their report with the court.
Contact A Lawyer If Negligence Is Involved
If you are involved in a boating accident and believe that negligence was responsible, you should consult an attorney. Negligence, in legal terms, is the failure to use reasonable care while performing a duty. This can encompass everything from failing to maintain a proper lookout to refusing to take safety precautions. If negligence was involved in your accident, your case may be more difficult to win. However, with the help of an attorney, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries and losses.
Fill Out Your Insurance Claim
If you are involved in a boating accident, the first thing to do is to fill out your insurance claim. This will help you document what happened and ensure that you get the best possible settlement or compensation. You may also want to call your insurance company right away to report the accident and confirm your coverage.
Get Responsible Party’s Insurance Information
After filling out your insurance claim form and submitting it to your insurance company within 30 days after an accident occurred, contact the insurance company of whoever was at fault for causing the accident so they can settle any claims before they go to court. Most reputable insurance companies are happy to tell you who was responsible for causing your accident so you can start getting compensated for any damages caused by their negligence. If anyone else was at fault for causing your boating accident, let them know so they can compensate you properly for whatever damages were caused by their negligence.
Being injured in a boating accident can be terrifying, but with a little preparation and planning, you can get through the ordeal without any major problems.
