Boating excursions offer lasting memories, yet tragedy can strike when you least expect it. As the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection notes, most boating accidents in the state are due to collisions with other boats or large objects. If you were recently in a maritime incident that left you injured, contact a Glastonbury boat accident lawyer at your earliest convenience. A qualified personal injury attorney could advocate for you to recover damages that can address your losses.
Common Reasons for Boat Collisions
Accidents on the water have a range of causes that warrant attorney consultations after the fact. Among the most common causes for watercraft accidents include:
- Operator inexperience
- Speeding
- Operator intoxication
- Reckless operation
- Operator drowsiness
- Operator distraction
Equipment malfunctions and poor weather also result in boat accidents. If a boat accident attorney in Glastonbury can show that the operator knew of these hazards but took their boat out anyway, they could be subject to legal claims. Overloaded boats can cause accidents as well, which also make the operator liable because they should have known about their vessel’s capacity.
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Boating Laws in Glastonbury
Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has many regulations and laws in place designed to protect boaters and maintain safe waterways. The department’s Boater’s Guide provides an exhaustive list of regulations, including what boaters need to do for a boating certificate. Among other things, they must complete a department-approved safety course and have their certificate available any time they are on the water. Boaters who do not take the course or cannot furnish their certificates provide plaintiffs with more evidence of wrongdoing in the event of watercraft accidents.
The guide also discusses operator age restrictions, as anyone under 16 can operate a boat as long as at least one other person aged 18 or older is present. That person must be certified by the state and have a minimum of two years’ experience on the water.
Boating Under the Influence
It is illegal to navigate a boat while intoxicated or on drugs. Those who operate watercrafts with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher face fines of $500 to $1,000, and legal action by any injured parties and a local boat collision lawyer. They also face a one-year suspension of their boating privileges, six months of jail time, or suspended probation that involves 100 hours of community service. If the boater receives the jail sentence, they must remain incarcerated for at least 48 hours before exploring probation options.
Penalties for subsequent violations are naturally more severe, such as a third violation within 10 years resulting in up to $8,000 in fines and three years in jail, including one year of mandatory jail time. Individuals with multiple violations will only strengthen the legal claims against them since they have a previous history of reckless behavior.
Reach Out to a Glastonbury Boat Accident Attorney Today
If you were physically harmed due to negligence while out on the water, contact a Glastonbury boat accident lawyer as soon as possible. Whether you suffered broken bones or more severe catastrophic injuries, you have the right to file for compensation. Contact a lawyer today if you are in need of a skilled legal advocate to assist you in filing a claim.
