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New Jersey Boat Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury or death as the result of a boating accident, the New Jersey boat accident lawyers at Cerussi & Gunn, P.C. can provide you with quality legal guidance. Handling a case arising out of a boating accident can be challenging and the prosecution of boating accident cases, in general, should be handled by law firms such as ours, that have the skill, experience, and resources to properly investigate and pursue the case.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,291 boating accidents in 2017, which resulted in 658 fatalities and 2,629 non-fatal injuries. Of these accidents, 106 took place in New Jersey.

What Constitutes a New Jersey Boating Accident?

A boating accident can refer to any accident involving a watercraft, from cruise liners or cargo ships to small personal watercrafts.

Types of Boating Accidents

Boating accidents can run the gamut, but some of the more common situations that will present themselves are:

  • Falling off a boat
  • Collisions with other watercraft
  • Collisions with fixed objects
  • Injuries due to inclement weather or hazardous waters
  • Flooding or swamping
  • Stranding or grounding
  • Capsizing
  • Engine or other machinery exploding or catching fire
  • Accidents involving water skis
  • Slip and fall on or near a boat
  • Accidents involving propellers

These accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the biggest risk factors when boating are:

  • Alcohol usage
  • Excessive speed
  • Operator inexperience
  • Operator inattention
  • Mechanical failure of machinery
  • Not following proper navigation rules and regulations
  • Hazardous waters
  • Inclement weather
  • Getting caught in a strong wave or wake

In fatal boating accidents in 2016, alcohol misuse was the leading cause. The injuries that can result from are as varied as the situations that can lead to them, but the biggest danger is drowning, which makes up 3/4ths of all boating accident fatalities.

Proving Fault in Boating Accidents

Boating accidents represent somewhat of a challenge compared to other vehicular accidents. This is mainly due to the fact that water can cause evidence related to the accident to deteriorate or disappear. This can make evidence gathering and accident reconstruction much more difficult. You need the help of experienced NJ boat accident lawyers that know how to secure maritime law enforcement and toxicology reports and get the right experts to help reconstruct the accident.

Boat Insurance

It is important to note that boat insurance works differently in New Jersey than auto insurance does. Boat insurance usually includes bodily injury liability coverage, which offers compensation to any person injured by the boat or as a result of an accident involving it. However, without any personal injury protection and the length of time it can take to settle a claim with the boat’s insurer, you could find yourself on the hook for medical expenses in the interim if you don’t have health insurance to help pay the costs.

NJ Boat Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident in New Jersey, Cerussi and Gunn stands ready to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. We have the experience to get you a favorable outcome from your case. Our Monmouth County, New Jersey office is conveniently located in Shrewsbury, NJ.