Boating Accident Lawyer in Dothan

A day on the water can end with an ambulance ride, time away from work, and questions about who will pay the bills. Boat crashes can cause serious injuries, especially when someone is thrown from a vessel, struck by another boat, or hurt by a propeller. 

A Dothan boating accident lawyer from Wettermark Keith can investigate what happened and pursue damages from the party responsible for your injuries. Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience, and Wettermark Keith has recovered more than $1.5 billion for clients.

If medical costs and missed paychecks are putting pressure on your household, a Dothan personal injury lawyer can take on the legal work while you focus on your health. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover damages for you. Call us today to discuss your situation during a free consultation.

How Our Boating Accident Attorney in Dothan Helps Build Your Case 

A boat crash may leave behind evidence in several places. There may be an accident report, photos, witness accounts, damage to the boats, GPS information, rental records, or evidence about the operator’s actions before the collision.

Wettermark Keith can gather that information and determine what caused the accident. Our attorneys can also deal with insurance companies, document your losses, identify the people or businesses that may owe damages, and negotiate for a settlement that reflects the harm you suffered.

If the case cannot be resolved through an insurance claim or settlement talks, we will prepare it for court. Each step is based on the facts rather than assumptions about how the crash occurred. 

Liability and Insurance Can Raise Questions After a Boat Crash 

The boat operator may be responsible when unsafe actions cause a crash. Speeding, drinking, distracted operation, ignoring navigation rules, or failing to keep a proper lookout can lead to a serious collision.

Figuring out what happened may require more than one piece of evidence. Witness accounts, damage to the boats, accident reports, and other records can help show what each person was doing before the crash. Wettermark Keith will use the available evidence to determine how the accident happened and who may be at fault. 

The insurance coverage available may depend on who owned or operated the boat and how the vessel was being used at the time. Our boat accident lawyers in Dothan will review the insurance policies and determine which coverage may apply, and pursue payment for your injuries and other losses.

Several Parties May Be Responsible for Your Injuries and Losses

A boating accident in Dothan may result from the actions of several people or businesses. Wettermark Keith will look beyond the person driving the boat when the facts point to another source of the accident. 

Potentially liable parties may include:

• The owner of the vessel
• A boat rental or charter company
• An employer whose worker caused the accident
• A company responsible for unsafe repairs or maintenance
• A manufacturer of a defective boat or boat part
• Another vessel operator involved in the crash

Identifying every liable party can be especially important when injuries lead to costly medical care, months away from work, or a permanent disability.

Boat Crashes Can Seriously Injure People

People aboard a boat have little protection when they are hit, thrown against the vessel, or ejected into the water. Injuries may require emergency treatment followed by months of rehabilitation. 

Common injuries include broken bones, head and brain injuries, spinal cord damage, cuts, burns, and internal injuries. Drowning and near-drowning can also cause severe or fatal harm. 

Wettermark Keith works with injured clients to document the medical treatment they have received and the care they may need later. 

Recoverable Damages May Account for More Than Today’s Bills 

A boating injury claim should reflect the losses that the accident caused. That may include costs you have already paid and losses expected to continue.

Depending on the case, recoverable damages may include: 

• Emergency and hospital care
• Surgery and rehabilitation
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced ability to earn a living
• Physical pain
• Emotional suffering
• Permanent disability or impairment
• Property damage

For someone facing a life-changing injury, our catastrophic injury lawyer in Dothan will examine how the injury may affect future medical care, work, mobility, and daily activities.

Our firm will use medical records, employment information, expert opinions, and other evidence to show the long-term cost of the harm caused by the boat operator. 

Families May Have a Wrongful Death Case After a Fatal Boating Accident 

The sudden loss of someone you love in a boating accident can bring grief, unanswered questions, and difficult changes for your family. If you have lost a family member to a fatal boating injury, we are sorry for your loss.

If another person’s wrongful or negligent actions harmed your loved one, your family may have legal options when another person’s wrongful or negligent conduct caused the death. 

Who Can Bring a Claim for Wrongful Death Damages?

Alabama handles wrongful death cases differently from many other states. Under Alabama law, the deceased person’s personal representative generally brings the wrongful death action. The damages are intended to punish wrongful conduct and discourage similar conduct rather than repay the family for specific financial losses.

Our Dothan wrongful death lawyer from Wettermark Keith can explain these rules, investigate the boating accident, and help the personal representative pursue a claim against the liable party. 

We approach these cases with care and give families clear information about their legal options and what comes next. For help, call us today for a free consultation.

Alabama Law Sets a Deadline for Boating Injury Lawsuits 

In Alabama, injured parties generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Ala. Code § 6-2-38. Waiting too long could result in losing the right to bring the claim. 

A different rule applies when a boating accident causes a death. Under Ala. Code § 6-5-410, an Alabama wrongful death action generally must be filed within two years of the person’s death. 

Certain circumstances can affect legal deadlines. A boat accident lawyer in Dothan at Wettermark Keith can review the accident date and other facts to determine how much time may remain to take legal action. 

Tell Our Boat Accident Lawyer in Dothan About Your Injury

After a serious boat crash, you may need answers about an insurance settlement offer, time away from work, or what your injuries could mean months from now. Wettermark Keith has served more than 100,000 clients, and we know that each person comes to us with different concerns and needs. 

Our attorneys will listen to what happened, explain your legal options in clear terms, and answer your questions about what comes next. If visiting us is difficult because of your injuries, our attorneys can travel for consultations when needed.

At Wettermark Keith, It’s More To Us, It’s Personal. Contact our firm to learn how our Dothan boating accident lawyer can help you. We will discuss your situation and legal options with you during a free consultation.