Scottsdale Boating Accident Lawyer
Scottsdale, Arizona is home to six beautiful lakes that make for great boating experiences throughout the year. Whether it’s a calm day in the sun, an active morning of water sports, or just an excuse to enjoy time with family and friends, there’s nothing quite like being out on the open water. When your time off is brutally disrupted by an accident, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
After getting everyone to safety and ensuring medical and police reports are filed, it’s time to start moving toward legal action. If your accident was a direct result of another boat driver’s negligence, you are owed compensation for your injuries, including those to your property. The first step, and possibly the most important, is reaching out to a qualified personal injury attorney, who can begin to consult you through your legal options. To see how a knowledgeable attorney can help you today, reach out to the board-certified team at Feller & Wendt today.
What Types of Compensation Are You Eligible for After a Scottsdale Boating Accident?
After experiencing an injury out on the water, you are left with injuries and damages to handle. Injuries from a boating accident can range in severity, with some of the more catastrophic damages resulting in thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages due to missed work. Your attorney will fight for you to receive the compensation you rightfully need after your accident, which can include the following types:
- Economic damages: For tangible losses, like emergency doctor’s visits, surgical procedures, or rehabilitative therapy, you are eligible to receive economic damages.
- Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages refer to the losses that are not so easily calculated, like the loss of a loved one, loss of the will to live, and all other pain and suffering as a direct result of the accident or your injuries.
- Punitive damages: If the accident resulted from gross negligence, you may be eligible for punitive damages. These damages are not correlated to your injuries and are only available for cases where the at-fault party is demonstrated to have acted willfully or knowingly recklessly.
Feller & Wendt understands that sometimes the only viable solution to your current situation is financial compensation. Finding a path out from piles of bills and the current inability to work can be a real lifesaver, and that’s why we work so hard to get you every penny you deserve.
How a Scottsdale Boating Accident Lawyer Can Help
Navigating the aftermath of a severe accident alone can result in a low settlement and wasted time. When you want the most of your settlement as possible, don’t try to face the insurance company alone. When you hire a Scottsdale boating accident lawyer, you are hiring someone to help you with the following:
Establish Liability
Using evidence, your Scottsdale boating accident attorney will establish liability. This is done through the four basic components of negligence: duty of care, breach of care, link or causation, and damages. Evidence such as eyewitness accounts, photographs, video or security footage, and expert testimony will be used to demonstrate that the other driver or manufacturer owed you a standard of care. For example, other boat operators owe it to themselves and others on the water to not drink and drive, as it may result in an accident. When this duty is breached by drinking or taking any other illegal substance and directly results in an accident, they may be found liable for your damages and sued accordingly.
Arizona currently follows a comparative negligence law, which is defined as:
“If the jury applies either defense, the claimant’s action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant’s fault which is a proximate cause of the injury or death, if any.”
As long as you are found to be not completely liable for your accident, you may still receive damages, though they will be reduced in accordance with the percentage of fault.
File Your Claim
The state of Arizona currently has a two-year statute of limitations for any personal injury claim. This means you have two years from the date of the boating accident to have your claim filed. In cases where the injuries are severe, finding the time to properly gather the correct documentation can be difficult. When you have an attorney on your side, they can handle this part for you while you focus on recovering. They will file your claim as soon as possible to ensure everything is completed before the statute of limitations and so your evidence is as legally relevant as possible.
Filing a claim on your own can very likely result in a settlement that’s not big enough and even a claim that is thrown out for not being filed correctly or on time. Don’t risk it, and partner with a Scottsdale boating accident lawyer today.
Been in a Scottsdale Boating Accident? Feller & Wendt Can Help
For many years, Feller & Wendt has helped the community of Scottsdale, Arizona protect their rights and get the financial compensation and justice necessary to move forward with their lives. Let us help you get the outcome you deserve by scheduling a free consultation today. Our people-first approach to personal injury means you have a dedicated Scottsdale boating accident attorney by your side every step of the way.
To begin the process of getting your life back on track today, please call (480) 702-2277 or use our contact form.
