This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Dustin Lance following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. Dustin Lance, the Founding Partner, has handled many types of personal injury cases and is licensed in Utah and Idaho.
A boating accident can change a person’s life in seconds, especially when a serious boating accident causes injuries or worse. These incidents often involve boats, jet ski crashes, or open motorboats where passengers have little protection.
Lance Bingham helps people injured in a boating accident understand their rights and options. We focus on accident victims in the St. George area and throughout southern Utah. When a boating accident is caused by negligence, families deserve clear answers and support.
Our goal is to help injured people recover compensation, pay medical bills, and move forward after a dangerous and frightening incident on the water.
A St. George boat accident lawyer helps injured boating accident victims deal with complex laws and insurance companies. Boat accident cases often involve serious injuries, disputed fault, and multiple parties.
Having an experienced boat accident lawyer helps protect your best interests, gather evidence, and pursue fair compensation so you can focus on medical care and recovery.
Boating accident injuries can include head trauma, broken bones, drowning injuries, or internal damage caused by impact. These injuries often require long-term medical treatment and ongoing care.
Insurance companies often challenge boating accident claims by questioning fault or downplaying injuries. Legal help makes it easier to prove what happened and who should be held liable.
Many boat accidents are preventable and caused by careless actions or poor decisions on the water. Understanding the common causes helps prove liability.
Alcohol use is a major contributing factor in boating accidents. Impaired boat operators may lose control, react slowly, and endanger passengers and other boaters. Alcohol also affects balance and judgment, which are already harder to manage when moving water. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of a serious boating accident.
Speeding on the water reduces reaction time and increases the force of impact during a crash. Reckless operation often leads to serious injuries and property damage. Fast speeds make it harder to avoid other boats, swimmers, or hidden objects. When operators ignore safety rules, the risk of a serious accident rises quickly.
Operator inexperience and inadequate training can lead to poor judgment, improper lookout, and unsafe decisions that result in accidents. New or unlicensed operators may not understand boating laws or safety rules. This lack of knowledge can put passengers and other people on the water at risk.
Utah boating laws control safety rules, fault, and time limits for claims. These laws play a key role in a boating accident case.
The Utah Boating Safety Act requires safe operation, proper equipment, such as life jackets, and responsible behavior on the water. These rules are meant to protect passengers, boaters, and other people nearby. When operators ignore these safety rules, accidents are more likely to happen, and injuries are often more serious.
Utah uses comparative negligence, which means fault may be shared between parties. Compensation is reduced based on a person’s level of fault. If someone is found mostly responsible for the accident, their ability to recover damages may be limited or denied.
Under Utah law, most boat accident claims must be filed within four years from the date of the accident.
If the claim is not filed within this four-year time limit, the court will usually dismiss the case, even if the injuries are serious. Acting quickly helps protect your right to file a claim and recover damages.
Some boating accidents are also affected by federal law, depending on where and how the incident occurred.
Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction may apply to accidents on navigable waters, which can change how claims are handled. These rules can affect where a case is filed and which laws apply. Federal courts may have authority in some boating accident cases, depending on the location and type of vessel involved.
Certain workers and cases involving vessels may fall under the Jones Act or general maritime law. These laws are designed to protect people who work on boats and ships. They can allow injured workers to seek compensation when negligence causes harm on the water.
More than one party may be held liable depending on how the boating accident occurred.
Negligent boat operators who were not paying attention or were speeding may be responsible for injuries sustained. These operators may ignore safety rules, fail to keep a proper lookout, or act carelessly around other vessels. When an operator’s actions cause harm, they can be held liable for the accident.
Boat owners and rental companies may be liable if they allowed unsafe operation or failed to maintain the vessel. This includes renting boats to inexperienced operators or failing to provide proper safety equipment. Poor maintenance or lack of instruction can increase the risk of serious accidents.
Machinery failure or defective boat equipment can cause accidents, potentially making manufacturers liable. Faulty engines, steering systems, or safety devices can fail without warning. When a defect causes an accident, the manufacturer may be held liable for resulting injuries.
Compensation helps injured people and their families recover after a boating accident.
Medical expenses include emergency care, hospital bills, rehabilitation, and future medical care needs. These costs can grow quickly after a serious boating accident. Ongoing treatment, follow-up visits, and long-term care may also be needed as injuries heal.
Lost income and reduced ability to work can be included when injuries affect employment. Some victims miss weeks or months of work while they recover. In serious cases, injuries may limit the type of work a person can do in the future.
Compensation may also cover pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by the accident. These harms affect daily life, sleep, and emotional well-being. Anxiety, fear of the water, and lasting stress are common after a serious boating incident.
A boat accident lawyer supports injured people through every stage of a boating accident case.
The investigation includes reviewing evidence, accident reports, and witness statements to establish negligence. This step helps show how the boating accident happened and who was at fault. Strong evidence makes it easier to support a boating accident claim and protect accident victims.
Negotiation helps push back against low offers and seek maximum compensation. Insurance companies often try to pay less than what injuries are worth. Having legal help makes it harder for the insurance company to delay or deny fair payment.
If needed, legal action may be filed to collect damages and pursue justice in court. This step is taken when settlement talks fail or when the fault is disputed. Going to trial allows a judge or jury to decide liability and compensation based on the facts.
Yes, injured boating accident victims may recover compensation if someone else was at fault.
Some cases do, depending on the location and vessel involved.
A St. George boating accident attorney helps investigate the accident, deal with insurance companies, and work to recover compensation for injured victims.
Yes, a serious boating accident can lead to wrongful death, and family members may have the right to seek compensation for their loss.
Yes, operator inattention is a common cause of boating accidents when the driver is distracted or fails to pay attention to other boats or dangers.
If you or a family member was injured in a boating accident, Lance Bingham is ready to help. We represent boating accident victims in St. George and surrounding areas and handle serious personal injury claims with care.
Our team understands the dangers posed by boating accidents and works to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain. We focus on clear communication, strong evidence, and results that protect your future.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your boating accident case and learn how an experienced boat accident lawyer can help you move forward.
Schedule Your
Free Consultation
