A boat accident on a Utah lake or reservoir can change your life in seconds. If you were injured on the water in or near Sandy, a Sandy boat accident lawyer at Lance Bingham can help you pursue the compensation you are owed. Our team investigates what happened, identifies who is responsible, and handles the insurance side while you focus on recovery.
We represent injured people across Sandy, Utah and the surrounding Salt Lake County area. Call Lance Bingham today at 801-477-8219 for a free case evaluation.
Boat accident claims are not like standard car accident claims. Liability often turns on Utah boating law, U.S. Coast Guard safety standards, and facts that disappear quickly once a vessel leaves the water. Lance Bingham builds each case around evidence and applicable law, not guesswork.
Our approach is direct and results-focused. We identify the negligent party, document the full extent of your injuries, and press for a recovery that reflects both current and future costs. Throughout the process, Lance Bingham keeps you informed and deals with the insurance companies on your behalf.
You pay nothing upfront. Our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means no fee unless we recover for you.
After a boating accident, the insurance company starts building its case immediately. An adjuster may call within days, sound friendly, and ask for a recorded statement. Their goal is to reduce what they pay, not to protect you.
A Sandy boat accident lawyer levels the field. We know how to preserve the evidence that matters, from vessel damage and repair records to witness accounts and Coast Guard reports. That evidence often decides a claim.
Boat accident cases also raise unique legal questions. Fault may depend on right-of-way rules, alcohol use, equipment failure, or a rental company's conduct. Lance Bingham untangles these issues and pursues every party who shares responsibility for your injuries.
Boating carries real risk in Utah, and the numbers show why safe operation matters on the water:
Most boating accidents trace back to preventable errors. According to data from the U.S. Coast Guard, several causes appear again and again in serious crashes.
The most common include:
Many people rent or borrow boats without ever learning how to handle one. A distracted or untrained operator can miss another vessel, a swimmer, or a change in the water until it is too late.
Crowded summer weekends on Utah reservoirs make these errors worse. When an untrained operator causes a crash, the operator and sometimes the boat owner or rental company can be held responsible for the resulting injuries.
Alcohol remains a leading factor in fatal boating accidents. Sun, heat, and motion intensify the effects of alcohol on the water, and impaired operators react slowly to danger.
Utah law prohibits operating a vessel while impaired, and a boating under the influence violation under Utah Code § 41-6a-501 can serve as strong evidence of negligence in an injury claim.
The force of a boating collision, a fall overboard, or a propeller strike can cause devastating harm. Lance Bingham represents people who have suffered injuries such as:
Utah has specific rules that govern how boats are operated, registered, and equipped. These laws often decide who is at fault after an accident. Understanding them helps you understand your claim.
The Utah State Boating Act (Title 73, Chapter 18) sets the framework for legal boating in the state. It covers operator conduct, required equipment, registration, and reporting duties. A violation of the Act can support a finding of negligence in a personal injury case.
Under Utah Code Section 73-18-13, an operator involved in an accident must stop, render reasonable assistance to anyone injured, and report the accident when required. Giving false information or leaving the scene can carry criminal penalties and points to fault.
Utah requires owners to register most motorboats and sailboats under Utah Code § 73-18-7, and to carry required safety equipment, including a wearable life jacket for each person on board, under Section 73-18-8. State law also sets minimum operator ages and a boating safety course requirement for youth operating a personal watercraft under Section 73-18-15.2. Ignoring these rules can establish negligence.
A boat owner can be liable when a minor operates the vessel negligently under Utah Code Section 73-18-18. Separately, operating a vessel while impaired is prohibited under Utah Code § 41-6a-501. Both provisions can expand the pool of responsible parties in your claim.
Sandy sits within a short drive of some of Utah's busiest recreational waters. During the warmer months, boaters head to nearby lakes and reservoirs in large numbers, and crowded conditions raise the risk of collisions and injuries.
No matter where your accident happened, Lance Bingham can help if you live in or near Sandy or were hurt while boating in Utah. We apply the same state boating laws and negligence standards to every claim we handle.
Utah follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Utah Code § 78B-5-818. You can still recover damages if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of fault is less than 50%.
Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 50% or more responsible, you recover nothing. Insurance companies know this rule; therefore, they often try to shift blame onto you to cut what they pay.
Injured people in Utah may recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, including:
Non-economic damages address the human toll of a serious injury, including:
Utah gives injured people four years to file most personal injury lawsuits under Utah Code § 78B-2-307. That deadline sounds generous, but evidence fades fast on the water and witnesses move on.
Do not wait to protect your claim. Call Lance Bingham at 801-477-8219 for a free case evaluation today.
The steps you take after a boating accident can shape your claim. If you are able, take the following actions:
When you bring your case to Lance Bingham, we start by listening. We learn how the accident happened and how it has affected your life and your family.
From there, our team investigates liability, gathers records, and documents your damages in full. We handle communication with the insurance companies and negotiate for a fair recovery.
We also work with medical providers and, when needed, accident reconstruction experts to show the full picture of your losses. Strong documentation is what moves an insurer from a low offer to a fair one.
Liable parties can include the boat operator, the owner, a rental company, or a manufacturer of defective equipment, depending on the facts.
Lance Bingham handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Possibly. Utah lets you recover if you are less than 50% at fault, though your compensation is reduced by your share.
Utah generally allows four years from the date of injury under Section 78B-2-307. Acting sooner helps preserve evidence.
Surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. We can explain your options during a free case evaluation.
You do not have to face the insurance companies alone. A Sandy boat accident lawyer at Lance Bingham is ready to review your case, explain your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve in Sandy, Utah.
Call our personal injury lawyer today at 801-477-8219 for a free case evaluation.
Dustin specializes in serious accident and injury cases in Utah and Idaho, practicing in State and Federal Courts. He's recognized as "Utah's Legal Elite," a "Mountain States Rising Star," and a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He holds an Avvo Superb Rating and is actively involved in legal associations, serving as a judge pro tempore for the Utah Supreme Court. A Utah native, Dustin earned his degrees from the University of Utah. He lives in Farmington with his wife and three children, enjoying family time, flying, and various outdoor activities.
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