Chicago Boating Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in a boating accident in Chicago, IL, you deserve to understand your legal options. An experienced Chicago boating accident lawyer at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys can help you fight to recover fair compensation. You may be entitled to money for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.

Our attorneys have decades of experience handling personal injury cases here in Chicago. We’ve used that experience to recover tens of millions of dollars for our injured clients who have been involved in Chicago bus accidents, aviation accidents, Chicago commercial vehicle accidents, uber accidents, birth injuries, and more.

Boating accidents can be terrifying–and you may face a difficult recovery. Contact our law firm in Chicago, Illinois at (312) 726-1616 to schedule a free consultation to get the legal advice you need.

How Can Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Help After a Boating Accident in Chicago?

Filing a lawsuit can take time and energy. So can the insurance claims process. That’s valuable time and energy that you should be spending focused on recovering from your injuries. Many accident victims give up before they really understand their legal rights.

If you were involved in a boat accident, you deserve the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago.

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we’ve dedicated our entire practice to protecting injured clients like you. We’ve made it onto the list of Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers of America.

When you hire us, you’ll gain an advocate to help build your case by:

Gathering and analyzing any available evidence
Working with top-rated experts in various fields to strengthen your claim
Calculating the full value of your losses so you know how much you deserve
Standing up and protecting you if the insurance company blames you for the accident
Negotiating with the insurance adjusters and defense attorneys while you recover
Fighting for your rights in court, if necessary, to get fair compensation

A serious injury can turn your life upside down. Contact our experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers to learn how we can help you get the money you need to move forward with your life.

How Common Are Boating Accidents in Illinois?

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 52 boating accidents were reported across the state of Illinois in 2022. That’s down from the 88 boating accidents reported to the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021. Still, 40 people were injured in boating accidents in 2022. Unfortunately, six fatalities were also reported.

These accidents can involve all different types of recreational boats, including:

Cabin motor boats
Open motor boats
Kayaks
Pontoon boats
Jet skis
Sailboats
Personal watercraft
Mini-jet boats
Fishing boats
Tour boats on the Chicago River
Airboats

While boat accidents aren’t as common as car accidents, they do have the potential to be very serious. 77% of all boating accidents reported in the state of Illinois in 2022 caused an injury or fatality.

What is My Chicago Boating Accident Injury Claim Worth?

Because all personal injury claims are unique, each case has its own unique value.

Some factors that impact the value of most personal injury cases include:

The severity of your injuries
The cost of your medical treatment and other expenses
The value of your lost wages during your recovery
Whether you will make a full recovery or suffer a long-term disability
How a long-term disability will impact your future earnings and quality of life
The emotional trauma and physical pain you have endured
Whether you share any fault for the accident

To determine how much money you should recover, our lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation. That includes examining the accident itself and how the injuries have impacted your life.

You deserve to understand how much compensation you deserve. Call our law firm in Chicago to schedule a free initial consultation for more information.

What Types of Damages Can Chicago Boating Accident Victims Recover?

Under Illinois personal injury laws, victims can seek compensation for both their economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages are your financial costs, such as:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages
Reduced earning potential
Nursing care
Medications or medical devices
Rehabilitation
Property damage

Non-economic damages are non-financial losses, often called “pain and suffering” damages, including:

Emotional distress
PTSD
Diminished quality of life
Physical disfigurement and scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life
Depression
Anxiety
Fear
Humiliation
Loss of consortium
Additional damages for the wrongful death of a family member

Economic damages are typically fairly easy to prove with receipts and records. However, establishing your future losses can be much more complex. Putting a dollar value on non-economic damages often requires expert testimony.

Fortunately, our lawyers have handled cases similar to yours in the past. We’ll use that experience to your advantage–and to help you maximize your financial recovery.

What is Comparative Negligence, and How Can it Impact My Claim for Compensation?

Comparative negligence is a legal concept. When multiple parties share blame for the same accident, liability is apportioned between them. Each party is liable for their own share of fault.

However, Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence law with a 51% bar to recovery. That means you lose your right to compensation once your share of fault reaches 51%. If your percentage of fault is less than 51%, your damages award is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Our Chicago Boating Accident Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we handle all types of boating injury claims, including those involving:

Broken bones
Contusions and bruising
Lacerations
Strains, sprains, and other soft tissue damage
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Head and neck injuries
Concussions
Back injuries
Dislocations
Internal organ damage
Burns
Amputations
Shock or hypothermia
Paralysis

Our lawyers are here to help you recover fair compensation. Contact our law firm in Chicago to schedule a free case review to learn more.

What Causes Most Boating Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?

Boating accidents happen for all different reasons.

Some of the most common causes of boating accidents in Chicago include:

A boat operator’s inattention or distracted boat drivers
Inadequate lighting on the vessel
Excessive speeds
Sharp turns
Failure to keep a proper lookout
Inexperienced operators
Hazardous water conditions on Lake Michigan
Violation of navigational rules
Improperly anchored vessels
Drunk driving
Operating the vessel under the influence of drugs
Congested waters
Hazardous weather conditions
Mechanical failures
Overloading
Missing life jackets and safety equipment
Fuel leaks or spills

Determining the cause of a boating accident can be difficult. It’s important to have a skilled legal team in your corner to handle the investigation. Our lawyers have the resources to conduct the full investigation you deserve. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can put our resources to work for you.

We Handle All Types of Boat Accident Claims

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, our lawyers in Chicago handle all types of boating accident claims, including those involving:

Collisions with another boat
Impact with a fixed or floating object
Contact with a propeller
Slip and fall accidents on the boat
Accidents where a victim is struck by the boat
Fires or explosions
Falls overboard
Flooding or swamping
Running aground
Capsizing

Any boating accident can be a traumatic experience. You don’t have to handle this difficult time alone. Our lawyers are here to help every step of the way, so schedule your free case review today.

How Do I Prove Negligence if I Was Injured in a Boating Accident in Illinois?

Like motor vehicle accidents, most boating accidents happen because someone was negligent. While there are many different types of negligent acts, the legal basis is simple. Someone failed to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would have used under the circumstances and caused someone else to get hurt.

While the concept is relatively simple, you’ll still need evidence to support your claim. Our lawyers will search for:

Eyewitnesses to the accident
Photos and videos taken by passengers or others on the water
Physical evidence from the boat itself
Medical records
Accident reports prepared by the police, DNR, or the Coast Guard
Statements from accident reconstruction experts
Statements from the boat owner

Obtaining the evidence to prove your case can be tricky. Our lawyers are up to the challenge. We’re well-prepared to help you determine what and who was responsible for your boat accident in Chicago.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Boating Accident in Illinois?

If Illinois state law applies in your case, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, a different statute of limitations could apply if your case involves federal or maritime laws.

In any case, once the deadline for taking legal action passes, you will forfeit your right to seek financial compensation forever.

Contact an Experienced Chicago Boating Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we offer free consultations so that you can get the legal help you deserve. We know that this is a difficult time. Call today to learn more about how an experienced Chicago boating accident attorney can help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Chicago, IL

Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys
Address:
10 S La Salle St STE 1230
Chicago, IL 60603

Phone:
(312) 726-1616

Business Hours:
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Our personal injury law firm in Chicago, IL also provides: