When traffic and city living in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino get to be too much, a trip to Silverwood Lake makes a great getaway.
The Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area is a place to enjoy a picnic lunch, hike the trails, fish, camp, and enjoy the sun on the beaches. Of course, there will also be plenty of folks ready to enjoy boat life and watersports for the day.
A day on the lake is always a good escape from the dangers of city life, but people can get careless here too. A boat accident or an injury suffered around the lake might put you or a family member in the hospital. Once you’ve had a chance to catch your breath, you’ll need to know how to most effectively hold an at-fault party responsible for the costs of recovery.
It’s the best time to call a California Boating Accident Lawyer and schedule a free case consultation to find out what your injury may be worth.
Boating Accident Dangers on Silverwood Lake
Boating is such a fun activity that it’s hard to think of the worst situations possible. Yet, devastating accidents occur every year on lakes across the U.S.
In 2020, the Coast Guard recorded 5,265 boating accidents. Those accidents led to 767 tragic deaths and left 3,191 victims with injuries. They also found that 18% of all fatal accidents for the year involved the use of alcohol.
Drunk boat operators can harm people in their own boats, in other boats, and in the water. Boat captains can simply be careless or reckless and their negligence of safety often makes them fully liable in personal injury cases.
Inexperienced boat operators are another problem. The coast guard found that around 77% of deaths in 2020 occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction.
Boaters on Silverwood Lake are required to follow California’s law mandating boat operators to have a California Boating Card. The card is required for anyone under the age of 41 to operate a boat in California’s waters. Find out how to apply for a card and take courses here http://californiaboatercard.com/.
What to Do After a Silverwood Lake Boating Accident
Just as in a car accident on a Southern California freeway, you’ll need evidence to prove you weren’t at fault in a boating accident. The fault can be clear to you and investigators, but insurance companies may still try to shift blame to you.
To make sure insurance companies don’t have grounds to reject your claim, you should gather as much evidence as possible on the scene of your accident. If you are physically able, try to collect these details:
- Call 911. Check on the status of everyone in your boat. Provide everyone with flotation devices if they don’t have them. Give responding officers full reports on what you remember about the crash. They’ll be working up an accident report that should be evidence in your favor. Let paramedics check out all injuries. Go to the hospital if necessary.
- Take photos. Take pictures of crumpled boats and other damage. Take photos of any visible injuries. Show any beer bottles or drug paraphernalia that might prove the operators on other boats were Boating Under the Influence (BUI). If you are on a marina and suffer an injury, take pictures of the obstacle that caused you to fall or get hurt.
- Swap information with the other boat operator or owner. Get boat registration information and insurance information if available.
- Talk to witnesses. Get contact information from witnesses and anyone who stopped to provide assistance.
- Preserve evidence. Save all damaged personal property and preserve any bloody clothing or shoes. Don’t throw out bloody clothing and don’t get rid of a damaged boat.
- See your doctor. Make appointments for yourself and any injured family members. Note any pain or injuries you notice in the days after your accident. Sometimes the shock of the crash can mask your pain at first. Get all of your injuries documented with your doctor.
Who Can Be Held Accountable for my Boating Accident
While building your personal injury case with the help of a California Boat Accident Lawyer, you’ll also be organizing a list of every damage you are seeking help with.
This can include reimbursement for all medical bills and every hour of work you’ve missed. It should seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress suffered by you or a loved one.
Families who experience the painful loss of a loved one in a lake accident can also turn to a wrongful death claim. This claim helps with the costs of a burial. It would also seek help replacing the financial support the victim can no longer provide the family.
One duty of your personal injury lawyer will be to investigate your accident and identify every party that should be held accountable for what happened:
- Boat owners and operators – This may be two different people. The boat driver may be the owner, or the owner may have lent the boat out to someone else. Both may be found liable for your accident and insurance providers for both parties may have to contribute if negligence is proven.
- Boat passengers — Those inside the craft or enjoying time in the water can make dangerous decisions and put others at risk of drowning or suffering a broken bone or a traumatic brain injury.
- Boat rental companies — Rental companies are liable when they give a boat to someone who behaves recklessly. These companies can also be responsible for not providing well-maintained boats that malfunction and cause an accident. They are also liable if they don’t provide adequate safety gear.
- Marina owners and park operators – There aren’t a lot of businesses right on Silverwood Lake. The California Department of Parks and Recreation operates the marina and facilities around the lake. A government department can be sued when their negligence or the negligence of an employee causes someone harm.
- Boat manufacturer. A malfunctioning part or design flaw could lead to an injury. A carbon monoxide leak could cause poisoning. The boat manufacturer would need to accept financial responsibility for the harm done.
Contact a San Bernardino County Boating Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one are hurt due to someone’s negligence on or around Silverwood Lake, you must stay informed of the benefits available to you and your family. Insurance companies won’t be telling you about this support, but a free consultation with a California Boating Accident Lawyer will make sure you know your rights as a victim.
Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer like Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law. He offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation to all victims and their family members. If you choose Mr. Gasparian to represent your boating injury claim, you won’t need any money. He doesn’t get paid unless he wins your case.
