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Vehicle accidents are one of the terrific casualties a person can go through. It can affect you physically as well as mentally. Many people become stomped after witnessing these accidents because they do not know what to do. It is necessary to understand the help or the assistance which you can render after the accident. And as said, accidents call for quick actions, taking necessary steps after a boating accident might help you save other’s life.
In accordance with the statistics, there are around 4291 accidents on average boating alone in a year. Hence, there are various legal compensations and rights established by various states regarding these boating accidents. For example, laws in Florida and Texas allow the person who was the victim of the accident monetary compensation. It is only given when the person knows his rights and is aware of such allowances.
1. Prioritizing Medical Attention
The first step when involved or witnessing a boating accident is to check whether any person needs medical attention. A person may have fatal injuries or can get seriously injured during those accidents, it is imperative to look out for such injuries.
Do Not wait for injuries to show up
One aspect to consider here is that not all injuries will show themselves right after the accident. Some people might seem fine, but they show some of the symptoms of injury hours later.
Why Medical Attention?
Medical attention is required because the injury caused can be grievous and if medical attention is lacking, it might also turn out to be life-threatening. Seek a doctor and get help before you start showing any of the symptoms.
Another advantage of consulting a doctor at the right time is to escape the questions of insurance companies. Taking a prescription and an appointment assures them that the victim has sustained the injuries in the boating accident itself.
Not just physical examination
Now, medical help is not limited to physical examinations only. Sometimes people who are involved in accidents are so shocked that they need therapy to recover even after the accident. Even if this is not an immediate step to be taken, it should be followed soon after the symptom of shock and emotional imbalance due to the incident starts showing up.
2. Help Others, Ensure Everyone’s Safety
After you have successfully made out of the accident or you are a witness, take the initiative to get everyone out of the scene. If the boat is still in the water, make sure no one is under it, and ensure everyone has reached the shore safely. Those who are having difficulty in swimming at that moment should be given safety gear to ensure they do not drown.
If the boat is in the way of people on the safe route, make sure it is cleared. It might get dangerous for people who are boating in the water by mistakenly hitting one another.
3. Contact The Coastal Guard
The coastal guard is the first person you should go to after the accident. He will be needing your location and whether there is any severe casualty in the accident. He prepares a report of the accident and a summary of what happened and how it happened. So it is important to tell the guard everything.
He will gather all the information regarding the accident and draft a report accordingly. This report is of great help when seeking compensation for such boating accidents. The report clearly mentions the facts found, pictures taken and inspections carried out for the inquiry of the accident.
Personal Evidence
The evidence that you gather for the purpose of an injury claim or compensation can be anything from asking questions from the witnesses to taking snaps from your smartphone.
These visible photographs will make excellent evidence in case you have to file a personal injury claim.
Here is a list of information that you need to collect as evidence.
- Boat operator’s name, addresses, and contact details
- Passengers’ names, contact details, and addresses.
- Name, number of any witnesses of the accident
- Identification number of the boat
- Photographs as evidence
Write down everything soon after the accident
This is one of the proven ways to collect correct and accurate information. Soon after the incident, write down everything from the passenger’s name to the date and time of the accident. This way even if you forget anything after the accident, you will have a piece of paper to make you remember the important evidence.
4. A personal Attorney
Soon after the accident, get yourself a personal jury attorney who is experienced in accidents, specifically boat accident matters. This attorney is for raising the personal injury claim. Ensure you have a skilled legal representation.
When you are hiring for boating accidents, not all personal jury attorneys practice such boat accident laws. The reason is that it can get quite complex. You have to hire someone who has experience in this field and who can put forward a strong claim. This ensures that you do not miss any deadline or lose the case because of the absence of technicality. If you are looking for experienced attorneys in boating accident laws, click here
Start with selecting an attorney and communicate all that happened. They will then ascertain how much is your claim worth and thereafter the claim shall be drafted and presented.
Bottomline
Accidents are horrible, and being in one is like walking in a nightmare. The emotional pain and shock stay along when deeply affected by the accident. Many times, people take medical care and leave for their homes after these boating accidents. But it is essential to exercise the rights the victim is given.
If in the situation the boat involved was yours, you might also have to consult the insurance companies to claim the damages for the incident. It is significant to do it within some time of the accident, otherwise, the memory fades and insurance companies start questioning the validity of any accidents.
