Tennessee has many lakes and rivers for people to take their boats out to and enjoy. Everyone can enjoy a day by the water for any occasion, including family reunions, work events, and parties. However, a celebratory and fun day can become pain-ridden when a boating accident occurs. Unfortunately, a moment of carelessness can have lasting consequences.
When you or a loved one are injured in a boat crash, you should speak with a Goodlettsville boat accident lawyer about what to do next. You do not need to handle the burden of litigation on your own. Our dedicated legal professionals at Ponce Law are ready to help you pursue the maximum compensation that you deserve. We will carefully investigate the facts of your case to determine who is responsible for your losses and the best way to hold them accountable. As the dominant personal injury law firm in Nashville serving communities across middle Tennessee, our seasoned personal injury attorneys know how to handle your case.
Enjoying the water is best when everyone practices proper safety guidelines. Serious injuries and even fatalities can result when a boating collision happens. Some common reasons behind such crashes are:
The cause behind your boating collision matters. That is because the state of Tennessee follows a modified comparative negligence model. This means that a party can recover damages—the legal term for financial compensation—as long as they are less than 501 percent at fault. In other words, you cannot recover damages if you are more than 50 percent or more at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. Depending upon a jury’s determination, your total damages award can be lessened based on your level of contribution to the accident. As a result, it is incredibly important to have a qualified lawyer represent you when you are involved in a boat accident in Goodlettsville.
In order to operate a boat on any river or lake, any Tennessee resident born after January 1, 1989, must possess a Boating Safety Education Certificate to prove that they completed the TWRA Boating Safety exam. Every boat operator must have a Tennessee Certificate of Number, also known as a registration card, to legally handle a vehicle on the water. They must also have validation decals. Every boat must possess on board at least one Coast Guard approved, wearable personal flotation device and one throwable personal flotation device.
Just like drivers of vehicles on land, boat operators cannot drive while they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving is one of the main reasons for water vehicle collisions. Drugs and alcohol can significantly affect a person’s vision, reaction time, and decision-making skills.
Tennessee has laws making it illegal to operate a boat recklessly or negligently. Reckless operation is considered “any act that endangers the life, limb, or property of another person.” That could include actions like:
It is important to consult with our Goodlettsville attorneys if any boating laws may have been violated when your collision happened.
If you get into a crash while on the water and it was not your fault, we recommend you take the following steps:
Cruising on a boat is supposed to be an idyllic escape from everyday life. A dreamy ride on the water can quickly become a nightmare when you get into a boating accident. We know boat crash cases can involve navigating complicated legal waters, which is why we have the skills and resources to aggressively fight for our clients. Ponce Law has been voted repeatedly Nashville’s Best Law Firm by the Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards, and we’ve been in the area for a long time.
Call a Goodlettsville boat accident lawyer at our firm today to discuss your legal rights and options after a water vessel collision caused by someone else’s misconduct.
