With thousands of miles of pristine coastline and beautiful lakes like Lake Tahoe, boating opportunities abound in the Golden Gate and throughout California. San Francisco Bay is known for its beauty but is equally renowned for the skill demanded from sailors. Boating accidents are not infrequent and hundreds of accidents are reported each year in California, resulting in millions of dollars in physical damage and severe injuries. Boating accidents involve boats of all shapes and sizes, from small dinghies to gargantuan cruise ships. No matter how big or small the boat, injuries can be grave and devastating to the injured person and the lives of loved ones.

The most common type of maritime mishap is when two vessels collide with each other. But sometimes people can also fall overboard, and there are many accidents every year involving water-skiers and wake-boarders. Accidents occur for much the same reasons as car accidents: driver inexperience or inattention, drug or alcohol use, or reckless driving, including speeding or the attempted maneuver of a boat in a manner that is beyond its capabilities. The United States Coast Guard has estimated that those who operate boats with a blood alcohol content of above .10 are more than ten times as likely to be killed or kill someone else in a boating accident than a boat operator who has not been drinking. In the absence of or in addition to driver negligence, accidents can also occur because a boat has design flaws, or because the boat is poorly maintained or ill equipped. .

On staffed boats like a cruise ship, accidents can occur due to the negligence of any member of the staff, whether in living quarters, dining spaces, or swimming pools onboard. Cruise ships, with their party charged environment, can also be the site of sexual misconduct on the part of crew members. The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C., has handled a variety of boating accidents and cruise ship incidents. Most cruise lines require that you act to file a claim before you are able to proceed in court. They also often dictate the jurisdiction in which the case may be brought and usually even limit the limitations period during which a passenger may bring suit. If you sustain injury on a cruise ship or staffed boat, be sure to save your ticket or obtain a reproduction of your ticket and related documents.

If you have been in a boating accident that has resulted in the disappearance or death of someone on board, has required someone to seek medical attention, or has caused more than $500 worth of property damage, you are required by Federal law to file a Boating Accident Report (BAR). It is of the utmost importance that you document any boating accident as soon as you can, filing an incident report, gathering information from all parties, as well as the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses who might have seen the accident or incident. It is also important that you seek medical attention directly after the accident, whether or not you feel that you are injured right then. Sometimes, people can be confused or in a state of shock following an accident that prevents them from adequately assessing their physical and mental state. Seeking an immediate professional medical opinion is essential.

We urge you to speak with an attorney as soon as possible following your accident or incident. The Law Office of Scott Righthand has years of experience handling boating accident cases, and will advise you as to how to proceed in seeking compensation for damages you have incurred.