When a Day at the Lake Goes Horribly Wrong
Your trip to the lake wasn’t supposed to include a trip to the hospital, but that’s exactly what can happen. Now you’re figuring out how to proceed on top of injury and trauma. The personal injury attorneys at Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys know that you shouldn’t have to suffer any more than you already have due to an accident that could have been avoided.
Boating Accidents Can Have Devastating Consequences
Negligent and reckless behavior on a boat causes far more harm than most people realize. In 2017, the Coast Guard reported 4,291 boating accidents, resulting in 2,629 injuries, 658 fatalities, and $46 million in property damage.
Boating injuries can be devastating — physically, emotionally, and financially. Common boating injuries include injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries due to collisions, improper docking, or other unsafe practices
- Slip and fall injuries due to a wet deck
- Broken bones
- Loss of limbs due to propellers or severe injury requiring amputation
- Hypothermia
- Drowning
- Wrongful death
You and your loved ones are worth more than a statistic, and your entire life shouldn’t have to be turned upside down because of one trip to the lake.
Danger on Michigan’s Beautiful Lakes
Michigan is known for its thousands of beautiful lakes. With that being said, boating under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, inadequate equipment, and failure to follow boating regulations are just a few examples of negligent actions that can lead to harmful consequences. One negligent boat operator poses considerable dangers on Michigan lakes.
The most famous and largest of Midwest lakes are, of course, the Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. Michigan also boasts an astounding 62,798 inland lakes, including:
- Houghton Lake
- Higgins Lake
- Torch Lake
- Lake Charlevoix
- Burt Lake
- Mullett Lake
- Lake St. Clair
Negligence can and does happen on all of these lakes. By holding negligent individuals accountable, Michiganders can work together to promote responsible behavior and foster a culture of safety among those who frequent our beautiful bodies of water.
Who is Liable in a Boat Accident Injury Lawsuit?
Were you or a loved one injured in a boating accident due to any of the following?
- An inexperienced driver
- An intoxicated driver
- A distracted driver
- A driver failing to use proper safety procedures, such as life jackets
- Equipment failure
- Excessive speed
- Struck by a boat’s propellers
If the accident occurred on an inland lake, Michigan boating laws dictate that the owner of the boat is usually liable for the boat accident. In this case, your personal injury attorney will file the lawsuit on your behalf with the circuit court, typically in the county where the accident happened.
However, Michigan and surrounding states are in a unique situation due to their proximity to the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are treated as “high seas” for federal admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. Due to this designation, Great Lakes boating accidents are therefore much more complex. The lawsuit will most likely be filed in federal court. In this event, it is critical that you consult an experienced attorney who is well versed with the boating laws in Michigan.
Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Southfield, Birmingham, Boyne City Michigan Boat Accident Attorneys
The attorneys at Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys have fought for families just like yours all over the country since 1993. We take the time to understand every small detail of your case, thoroughly investigate the facts, and go the extra mile to meet you any time, any place — because we know that our clients deserve to be treated with respect, from the first consultation through the entire trial process.
Contact our team of boating accident attorneys online or call us at 248-564-3618 to schedule your free consultation.