When the fast-paced life in Los Angeles and Orange Counties wears residents out, many head east to Big Bear Lake for some alpine relaxation. The seven-mile lake sits at over 6,500 feet in elevation and you can tell with each breath you take.
Lake activities are just the beginning of the fun in this mountain paradise. There’s skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, and shopping and dining all year round. Visitors can rent boats and non-motorized craft to get out on the water to enjoy fishing, swimming, and a lot of amazing watersports.
The only thing that follows you from the city is the sometimes careless behavior of others. A reckless or inexperienced boat operator can strike you or your watercraft. You can also suffer an injury due to the negligence of the owners and operators of lake resorts and marinas.
When you or a family member are hurt at Big Bear Lake, it’s critical that you make sure the costs of recovery from someone else’s mistake won’t fall to you.
Boat Accident Dangers at Big Bear Lake
The beautiful snow may be gone but people still flock to Big Bear Lake in the summer and fall months to enjoy lake life. Many people spend summer vacations along the beautiful shores of Boulder Bay and Metcalf Bay. Some people prefer to wait until the famous Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest begins each year.
The lake remains busy during the warmer months and people enjoy diving into the clear water and jet skiing across its surface. Fishing enthusiasts like pulling out bass, trout, and sunfish from the best holes.
The fun doesn’t stop, but it’s important to keep an eye on safety as you navigate the lake. Just like on a California freeway, you must monitor the path of your own boat and keep an eye on everyone else’s driving too.
A mistake by another boater, or an employee for a business that operates on the lake, can easily send you or a loved one to the emergency room. These are just a few of the safety hazards seen on Big Bear Lake each season:
- Boat Operator Carelessness – People steering boats are required to show a duty of care to everyone else using the lake. This means keeping a close watch for other boats and people in the water. The maximum speed on the lake is 35 mph, but boat operators should always travel at a speed safe for conditions. That means slowing down when other boats and people are around. Avoiding devastating accidents is the biggest priority.
- Boat Operator Recklessness – Boat operators can feel like they’re invincible on the water and begin to travel too fast and drive too aggressively. Trying out stunts with any watercraft is a hazardous idea. Boat pilots should also put the safety of their passengers first.
- Boat Operator Inexperience – Boat operators may have very little experience navigating the lake and avoiding obstacles. Their ill-advised actions could harm people in boats and people in the water. Experience is especially beneficial around marinas when bringing a boat in for the day. Pilots need a California Boating Card and this documentation should mean the holder has at least a little bit of knowledge about water safety.
- Boating Under The Influence (BUI) – Drug and alcohol use factor into an enormous number of boating accidents. Boaters are required to stay under.08% Blood Alcohol Levels just like a motorist. The sun, wind, engine noise, and motion of the boat can leave boaters impaired even faster than if they were on land. If you are hit by what appears to be a BUI boater try to take photos of the evidence that may be littered around the suspect’s boat.
- Boat Mechanical Failure – A part on a boat might malfunction and compromise the safety of a watercraft. A boat motor may fail to reduce power or cut-off and leave a boat careening out of control. This could be a problem with the maintenance performed or not performed on the watercraft.
- Marina, Resort, and Tour Company Accident – A rental company may provide you with a boat that malfunctions or that doesn’t have the proper safety gear included, causing a crash. A marina is also a prime place for a slip-and-fall accident when employees don’t clear or fix hazards that could send you down for a painful injury.
A California Boating Accident Lawyer conducts a full investigation on your behalf to identify the cause of your injury and every party that may owe you compensation. Maison Law of California offers a free, no-obligation consultation to all victims and their families. Schedule an appointment to find out if you have a case and what your injuries may be worth.
Young Boat Operator Hazards
Inexperienced boaters are often young boaters, and some younger lake visitors shouldn’t be setting the course for a boat. A devastating accident could occur and leave parents and guardians liable for the injuries their children cause.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation requires a boat operator to be 16 years of age or older and in possession of his/her California Boater Card to drive a vessel powered by a motor of 15 hp or more, including personal watercraft. Persons 12 to 15 years of age may operate a similar vessel if they are supervised on board by a person at least 18 years of age.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Big Bear Lake Accident?
Just like a negligent driver on the interstate, boat operators should be held accountable for the crashes they cause. An injured victim could file a claim against the boat operator’s homeowners insurance. The boat owner may possess specialized boat insurance, especially if payments are still being made on the watercraft.
Rental companies may also face liability if you rent a boat that isn’t properly maintained and you end up getting hurt in a collision or due to an engine fire or explosion. Tour organizers face liability when you are harmed during your boat trip, especially if a tour leader/boat captain makes an error that gets people hurt.
Boat manufacturers also face liability when a boat’s design creates a dangerous malfunction. Compensation may be due, especially if there’s been a recall on faulty boat parts and yet you are still permitted to take an unsafe boat on the water.
Resorts and marina operators owe their customers a safe journey from their parking lots, through their hotels, and down to their boats. When hazards are left out where customers could be injured, the owners and property management companies can be held fully accountable.
Compensation Available After a Boat Accident Injury
Victims who are injured in a Big Bear Lake boat collision or any sort of accident endured around the lake will first be asking for help with their immediate medical costs. A trip to the emergency room and a few nights in the hospital must never be left to the victim to pay for. A long-term injury also requires an estimate on the expenses the victim will face and full support for financial hardships in the future.
The lost wages a patient forfeits while missing work is also included in a claim for damages sent to the insurance company for the at-fault party. A victim may not be able to pay things like rent and even a car payment while recovering and unable to earn a paycheck. Things like the physical pain victims endure and the emotional trauma suffered can also be compensated with a settlement check.
Families who have tragically lost a loved one in a boating accident are encouraged to file a wrongful death claim. This civil lawsuit asks for financial support for a funeral and burial for the victim. Any settlement earned is also intended to keep the family out of economic trouble in the future when they must proceed without the financial support the deceased would have provided.
Contact a Big Bear Lake Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one are injured during a trip to Big Bear Lake or anywhere else in San Bernardino County, don’t leave your injury support up to an insurance company. Make sure you have a San Bernardino County Personal Injury Attorney on your side making sure you and your family are treated fairly.
Contact a skilled California Boating Accident Lawyer like Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. He offers a free, no-obligation case consultation to all victims and their family members. If you choose Mr. Gasparian to represent your boating injury claim, you won’t need any upfront money. He doesn’t get paid unless he wins your case.
