Getting Help With My Accident

What Should You Do Following A Boat Accident?

Being involved in a boat accident can be scary. However, unlike a car accident, you may unaware of what you should do immediately following a boat accident. After you have removed anybody from water that may have fallen over and ensured the boat is safe, you should head for land. Once there, here are a few things you should do after the accident:

Take Pictures of Both Boats

Once you are back on dry land, you will want to exchange insurance information with the other boat driver. As you do this, pull out your cell phone and be sure to capture pictures of both boats. These photographs can later play a critical role in determining who was at fault. This can be important, especially if any injuries were sustained. If you have one hundred percent of the fault in the accident, you cannot file a personal injury claim. However, if the other driver is at fault, or you both share some, you may be able to. 

Obtain Witness Information

After a boat accident, other boaters who witnessed the accident may follow you both to land to ensure everyone is o.k. While you may be shaken up, it is critical that you ask to get their contact information. Once the witnesses are gone, tracking them down again without a name or phone number can be like seeking a needle in a haystack. Obtaining their contact information is important in case you do file a personal injury claim. Their story can help prove what happened and who was at fault. 

Seek Out Medical Attention

Lastly, following a boat accident, you will want to seek out medical attention. After the accident, you will likely have adrenaline pumping through your body. This can help to disguise injuries and pain. Unfortunately, most people are standing or sitting without a seat belt on while on a boat. As such, the risk of injury is greater in a boat accident than a car accident. Getting checked out helps to catch any injuries that you may have right from the initial stages, even if you do not yet feel them. 

If you have been injured in a boat accident, you may want to seek out a consultation with a personal injury attorney. They can help review the facts of the case and let you know if you have a case or not. If you do, they can help you file the case and collect any money you may be entitled to. 

Contact a law office like Gartner Law Firm for more information and assistance. 


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