Myrtle Beach is surrounded by water, and boating trips are extremely popular on the Grand Strand. The high volume of boats on the waterway increases the risk of boating accidents. The cause of accidents can vary greatly, ranging from boater misconduct, intoxicated boat drivers, erratic boat driving, to ingress and egress accidents at the dock. The owner and operator of the boat who caused you injury should be held liable for their negligence. South Carolina law affords you a legal remedy for your injuries; you are entitled to recover damages to include personal injury damages, emotional distress damages and property damage among other damages.
The presence of law enforcement on the water is sparse compared to the presence of law enforcement on our roadways. Therefore, a law enforcement officer is not as readily available to arrive on the scene and document a police report. It is important to report boating accidents as soon as possible. Do not trust in the promise of the other driver to pay for your damages.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a boating accident, you need experienced legal counsel on your side. The attorneys at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are your local personal injury attorneys.
Your first priority after an accident is to get medical care. If you are able to safely do so, you should also take photos of the damage, get the other boat driver’s information and insurance, and write down the contact information of any witnesses. Since the police may be delayed, document the scene as thoroughly as possible to preserve any evidence. Then, you should call your attorney right away. Do not give any statements to insurance companies.
Your first line of protection after a boating accident will be insurance. It is important to have comprehensive coverage for your boat to protect yourself. However, you may also be able to make a personal injury claim against the other boat driver if their negligence led to your injuries. The law can protect you, but it is important that you speak to your lawyer before speaking to any insurance companies. This way, you cannot inadvertently give away your rights.
If the matter is serious, your counsel should be exceptional.
Boat operators must stop immediately in the case of a collision. Though the water may cause the boat to move a bit, the driver should stay at the scene of the collision until help can arrive. The boat operator must also assess any injuries that have occurred, either to themselves or to their passengers. If no one is gravely injured, the boat operator should begin to exchange information with any other drivers involved, just as in a car accident.
You must report a boating accident to the DNR if the collision results in:
For legal purposes, you may wish to report the accident even if one of the above does not apply. You should always retain any evidence of the accident if a legal case arises. Call your attorney after a boating accident to see if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Most boating accident deaths occur because a boat collides with another boat or with a stationary object. These collisions can easily cause serious injuries that may be fatal under the correct circumstances. It is also important to note that medical help may be slow to arrive in the case of a boating accident, and the delay can result in death or serious consequences as well. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious and safe when boating.
Even if you are extremely careful while on the water, boating accidents can happen. Unfortunately, other boaters can put you and your passengers in danger by disobeying the rules. Fortunately, the law allows you to take action if you or your passengers have been injured in a boating accident of any kind.
With the help of a qualified South Carolina boating accident attorney from Axelrod & Associates, justice for boating accident victims begins now. Call 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form for a free initial consultation. We have offices in Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and Little River.
I just had the most awesome results with Axelrod Law Firm, particularly with Tatiana Berkey! She got my 8 points reduced to zero with only a $25 fine! She was so informative, caring and productive! It’s a great law firm with great results!
The staff at Axelrod&Associates is far none the best on the grand strand.they have taken care of 5 different cases for me and they went way above my expectations. Heather,Kelly ,Stuart and notably the best paralegal in the business…”Jenna” are so professional and most of all….caring. A million thanks to everyone there.
Go see Kate O’Hara! Her and her team work great together! Kept me up date and answered all the questions that I had! I couldn’t thank them enough!
Words can’t describe how thankful I am for this law firm ! They went way beyond anything I could have ever expected. If you are looking for a firm that really cares about their clients , this is the one!
Great experience working with Jenna and Heather on my adoption. It has been a long, lengthy process, and they were great getting me through all of it. Would recommend and definitely use them again in the future if needed. Thank you so much.
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Our attorneys handle a wide range of legal concerns ranging from personal injury, to traffic tickets to criminal charges to on-the-job injuries, to divorce and custody matters, to social security and veterans administration disability claims.
4701 Oleander Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-484-3983
1550 N. Oak St.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-390-9090
1510 Ebenezer Road
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-956-1224
3700 Golf Colony Ln
Little River, SC 29566
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