Fresno Boating Accident Lawyer

Recreational Boating & Personal Watercraft Accidents

With an abundance of nearby lakes and rivers, many residents of Fresno and the nearby communities enjoy recreational boating. But a day out on the water can quickly go wrong when others are negligent, careless, or downright reckless.

If you were injured or if someone you love tragically passed away due to a boating accident in or near Fresno, turn to the personal injury team at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt. For more than four decades, our attorneys have been standing up for victims of serious accidents, including all types of recreational boat and personal watercraft collisions.

We have helped catastrophically injured individuals and the families of those wrongfully killed seek justice and recover the fair compensation they were owed. Our team is known for its aggressive approach to litigation—an approach that has helped our firm recover millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.

Types of Boating Accidents

We have helped victims of all types of recreational boating accidents, including those involving:

• Speedboats
• Motorboats
• Pontoon boats
• Houseboats
• Manually powered boats (kayaks, rowboats, etc.)
• Rental boats and watercraft
• Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and WaveRunners
• Waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing
• Marina/dock accidents
• Alcohol/intoxication
• Boat/watercraft defects
• Faulty machinery and equipment, including safety devices
• Swimmers/people in the water
• Grounding

Regardless of how complex your situation may be or how challenging your case seems, our Fresno boating accident lawyers are here to help. We have the necessary resources to fully investigate and litigate your claim and are prepared to aggressively seek the maximum compensation you are owed for your injuries and damages.

How Do Boating Accidents Happen?

Recreational boating accidents are far more common than many people realize. These accidents occur due to a wide variety of factors, most of them stemming from negligence.

Some of the most common causes of boating accidents include:

• Excessive speeds: Boaters and personal watercraft operators who travel at high speeds have less time to react to obstacles in the water, including other boats/watercraft, water skiers/wakeboarders, swimmers, buoys, and sandbars.
• Operator inexperience: Inexperienced—or even underaged—boat operators may be less equipped to handle a boat, Jet Ski, or other type of watercraft. This could lead to a serious collision, resulting in devastating injuries or death.
• Distraction: Even the most experienced boaters can fall inattentive behind the helm. Operating a boat is a major responsibility, and the unpredictability of weather, waves, and other boaters means the boat operator should always pay attention to their surroundings. Think of boating as the same as driving a car; each should require proper attention. Inattentive operating is the leading cause of boat accidents.
• Intoxication: It’s no surprise that alcohol is a common factor in many boating accidents. Just like driving a car while drunk, however, operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to deadly collisions.
• Hazardous waters: Unsafe weather conditions, rough waters, and difficult-to-see hazards in the water, such as hidden sandbars, can all cause devastating boating accidents, especially when boat operators are inexperienced, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired.
• Navigational rules violations: Boaters are expected to know and follow all applicable navigational rules depending on the waterway on which they are operating. Failure to follow these rules can result in serious accidents.
• Improper lookout: With the multitude of factors at play while operating a boat, it is important to have a designated lookout to provide an extra set of eyes on potential hazards. Cars have mirrors to alert you to all sides of your vehicle, but it’s harder to know what is happening around you when operating a boat. Without a lookout, boaters are more prone to accidents and potential injuries.
• Equipment failure: Sometimes, defective machinery or faulty equipment can lead to or worsen an accident. Examples include watercraft that are missing key components or safety features, as well as defective lifejackets or engine parts.
• Improper boat maintenance: Failures in boat motors or hulls contribute to problems on the water, including the risk of fire or drowning. Conducting regular maintenance on your boat and ensuring it is in tip-top shape will reduce the risk of injuries.
• Inclement weather: Rain and high winds can lead to other operational problems with boats. Make sure to stay up to date with the weather forecast to avoid the potential for inclement weather and the risks that weather brings with waves and choppy wakes.

Pinpointing the cause of the accident is a critical element of your claim, as it allows our attorneys to uncover how the incident occurred and, most importantly, who is responsible. This, in turn, allows us to begin preparing your claim, gathering supporting evidence, and negotiating with the liable insurance company.

Important Rules for California Boaters

A boating accident is similar to a car accident in that you need to prove negligence to determine fault and liability. To do this, you and your attorney will need to prove that the other boater was operating their water vessel irresponsibly and that you were injured as a direct result of their negligence.

Boat operators are required to follow waterway rules, just like motorists are required to follow roadway rules. When boaters do not do this and an accident occurs, they may be held responsible for the incident and any resulting injuries.

All boat operators in California are required to observe the following rules when on the water:

• No person under 16 years of age can operate a boat with a motor of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length.
• The maximum speed for motorboats within 100 feet of a bather and 200 feet of a bathing beach, diving platform, lifeline, or landing where boats are tied up is 5 miles per hour.
• Boaters may not operate their vessel while someone is bodysurfing behind the vessel or occupying a swim deck or ladder.
• No person shall operate any vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device recklessly or negligently to endanger the life or limb of any person.
• No person shall operate any vessel, water skis, or similar device while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If you have been injured in a boat accident caused by an irresponsible or negligent boat operator, we can help you recover the compensation you’re entitled to. Our Fresno boat accident lawyers have over 40 years of combined experience ready to work for you.