If you’ve been hurt in a boating accident in Illinois, contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys at (312) 726-1616 for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and distress. Our exceptionally talented Illinois boating accident lawyers can help you fight for damages.
Our team includes award-winning trial lawyers who’ve spent decades standing up to powerful companies on behalf of accident victims and their families. We understand the complex rules and regulations that apply in boating and maritime injury cases and build powerful legal claims that hold at-fault parties accountable for our clients’ considerable pain and suffering.
We’ve won tens of millions for Illinois injury victims, and now we’re here to fight for top case results for you after your boat accident, too. Reach out when you’re ready to get started.
Why Choose Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to Help You After a Boating Accident in Illinois
Boat accident victims turn to Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for help after boating accidents in Illinois because we’re honest and respected legal advocates with a proven ability to win tough cases.
Our Illinois personal injury lawyers are recognized for excellence in civil litigation by:
- Super Lawyers
- Best Lawyers
- The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers
We’re ranked as one of the Best Law Firms in the United States by Best Lawyers and have hundreds of five-star reviews from former clients on Google and other trusted platforms. Clients benefit from personalized legal representation and resources that rival those available to the most powerful insurance companies in the nation.
Choosing our Illinois boating accident attorneys doesn’t just level the playing field; it gives you the upper hand and puts you in a position to maximize your recovery. Contact us to discuss the details of your boating accident case today. Your first consultation is free.
We Represent Clients Who’ve Been Injured in All Types of Boat Accidents
It’s important to work with an Illinois personal injury attorney who has experience handling boat accident cases like yours. Every boat accident is different. When your attorney has the knowledge and experience these cases require, it can translate to better representation and better case results.
We have experience representing clients in cases involving:
- Speed boat accidents
- Kayak accidents
- Canoe accidents
- Jet ski accidents
- Sailboat accidents
- Tour boat accidents
- Motor yacht accidents
- Commercial fishing accidents
- Cycleboat accidents
- Donut boat accidents
- Cruise boat accidents
When you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a boat accident on a waterway in Illinois, don’t hesitate to call us for help. We’ll listen to your story, help you understand your legal rights, and work toward achieving a meaningful financial recovery from a negligent party or insurance company on your behalf.
How Much Could My Boat Accident Case Be Worth?
Since every boating accident is different, so are the potential monetary awards that can be paid to victims.
When calculating what your boat accident case might be worth, our personal injury attorneys will consider:
- The types of injuries you’ve suffered
- The need for hospitalization or long-term medical care
- Changes in your ability to work
- Loss of limbs or bodily function
- How the boat accident and your injuries have impacted your quality of life
- Who’s responsible for causing the boat accident
- Available insurance benefits and applicable policy limits
- Shared responsibility for the boat accident
As a general rule, more serious injuries tend to warrant higher financial awards. However, don’t underestimate what your boat accident case might be worth if your injuries are mild or moderate. Any injury can disrupt your life and cause significant financial hardships, all of which you deserve to be awarded if someone else is at fault.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded to Boat Accident Victims?
When you file a boat accident lawsuit in Illinois, you’ll have the ability to pursue economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Costs paid out-of-pocket
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
Punitive damages may be awarded if there’s compelling evidence that the defendant acted maliciously or was grossly negligent. However, under Illinois law, they’re permitted only when a boat accident lawsuit goes to trial and a jury decides that financial punishment is appropriate.
What Does it Cost to Hire a Boating Accident Lawyer?
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys represents boat accident victims on a contingency fee basis, so it costs nothing out of pocket to hire our law firm.
We get paid when we successfully recover compensation on your behalf. Our fees are paid as a percentage of your winnings. You owe us nothing if we don’t win.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Boating Accident in Illinois
Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule, sharing responsibility for a boat accident can limit or prevent a financial recovery. You can generally recover a portion of your damages if you’re 50% or less responsible for causing a boat accident. Your financial award is usually reduced proportionately to your share of the blame.
Damages can be barred if your shared fault is greater than half.
Common Boat Accident Injuries
Our Illinois boat accident injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation for all of the injuries you’ve suffered, including:
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Concussion injuries
- Chest injuries
- Leg injuries
- Eye injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Drowning injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- The wrongful death of a loved one
Many factors can influence the types of injuries you suffer and their severity, including the type of boat accident you’re involved in, whether you’re thrown overboard into the water, the speed at which the accident occurred, and your general health and well-being before the wreck.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents?
Most boating accidents in Illinois happen because someone is negligent.
Some of the primary causes of boat accidents include:
- Operator inattention
- Drug and alcohol use
- Ignoring water safety rules
- Operating a boat in bad weather conditions
- Speeding
- Improper handling of strong wakes
Inexperienced boat operators are more likely to get into boat accidents than experienced ones. That’s one reason why Illinois has strict age and education requirements for anyone who wants to operate a boat.
Other factors that contribute to Illinois boat accidents include:
- Mechanical problems
- Boat defects
- Poor boat construction
- Intentional misuse of a vessel
Our boating accident attorneys in Illinois will thoroughly investigate your situation to understand how and why your accident happened. Knowing the cause is essential in building a powerful legal claim that can help you obtain much-needed compensation for your resulting injuries and trauma.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident in Illinois?
While there are some exceptions, most boat accident lawsuits in Illinois typically have to satisfy a two-year statute of limitations. This generally gives you until the second anniversary of your boating accident or the date of a loved one’s passing to seek damages.
Once the statute of limitations runs out, your right to sue usually disappears.
Who Could Be Liable for My Boating Accident Injuries?
Liability refers to financial responsibility for another person’s personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death. In Illinois, anyone who contributes to a boat accident, even indirectly, can be liable for the consequences.
Every case is different, so liability in your case will ultimately depend on why the boat accident happened.
Potentially liable parties might include:
- Negligent boat operator
- Boat rental company
- Tour boat company
- Boat mechanic
- Boat manufacturer
- Boat passenger
- Property owner
- Dock owner
- Vessel owner
It’s not uncommon for more than one party to contribute to a boat accident. In these situations, liability is shared proportionately to fault. The more someone’s mistakes or bad actions contribute to a boat accident, the more of your damages they’ll be responsible for covering.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Illinois Boating Accident Lawyer
Boat accidents can be scary, stressful, and financially taxing. As a victim, it’s important to seek help as you recover and put your life back together. It’s why boating accident victims in Illinois turn to Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys.
Our Illinois boating accident attorneys are respected legal advocates who can be trusted to fight for your best interests. Contact us to schedule your free case evaluation today.
