Can I Be Compensated for Emotional Trauma after a Boating Accident?

Boating accidents tend to be traumatic. If you’re a passenger, for example, you’re counting on the boat’s owner to keep it safely maintained and to provide the necessary safety equipment, and on the skipper to navigate the waterway safely. In other words, you’re extremely vulnerable, which can translate to considerable emotional pain and suffering in the event of an accident.

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s time to consult with an experienced Conway vehicle accident attorney at The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A.

Boating Accidents

There is a wide range of risk factors involved in boating accidents that can amplify the trauma victims experience. These include:

• Because they happen on the water, the risk of drowning is all too real.
• Boats don’t offer the protective shell that the vehicles we drive do.
• Boats are less likely to have the same level of protection as the vehicles we drive. For example, every passenger may not have a seat belt, and there are no airbags to help shield passengers from the impact of accidents.
• Boat passengers must rely on the boat’s owner or skipper to ensure that the vessel is well-maintained and is adequately equipped with the necessary safety equipment.

If you were involved in a boating accident, the emotional pain and suffering you endured can be difficult to overstate.

The Basic Elements of Boating Accidents

To bring a successful boating accident claim that compensates you fairly for the trauma you endured, the following elements must apply:

• The at-fault party owed you a duty of care. This is a responsibility to safety that every person at the helm of a boat bears.
• The at-fault party breached this duty of care. In boating accidents, this often means excess speed, impairment, or failure to maintain a safe distance.
• You suffered physical, financial, or emotional losses as a direct result.

Your Emotional Losses

While emotional damages are often calculated in relation to the victim’s financial losses, such as medical bills and lost income, this isn’t always the case. If you weren’t physically injured in the boating accident but were in the zone of danger, which means you were in harm’s way, you can seek compensation for your emotional damages alone. The same is true if you suffered severe trauma because of the accident.

From here, you will need to prove the magnitude of the trauma you endured. And you can trust your diligent boating accident lawyer to help accomplish this.

Turn to an Experienced Conway Boating Accident Lawyer for the Help You Need

Even a relatively minor boating accident can be absolutely terrifying, and if you were injured or came close to being injured in the process, this emotional component is amplified. If this is the difficult position you find yourself in, the formidable boating accident attorneys at The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A., have earned a solid reputation for successfully recovering on our valued clients’ full range of non-economic damages like pain and suffering, and we’re here for you, too.

Learn more by contacting us online or giving us a call at 843-248-3177 today.