Have you been hurt in a watercraft accident in Austin, TX? If so, contact Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers at (512) 503-4878 for a free consultation. Let our Austin watercraft accident lawyers help you pursue maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Our team has 32 years of combined experience helping accident and injury victims get the compensation they deserve. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation to help these victims recover and move on with their lives. Contact us now to let us get started investigating your accident right away.
How Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Watercraft Accident in Austin
A fun day on the water in Austin, Texas, can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are injured in a watercraft accident. You may find yourself left with catastrophic injuries and dealing with extensive medical bills and severe pain. You need an experienced Austin personal injury lawyer to fight to protect your rights.
At Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help you after a watercraft accident by:
- Performing an independent investigation of your accident
- Answering all your questions and determining the law that applies to your case
- Identifying all potential defendants and sources of compensation
- Reviewing your medical records to put an accurate value on your claim
- Handling all communications with the defendant and opposing counsel
- Negotiating a full and fair settlement for your claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and taking your case to a jury when necessary
Call us today to let us help you get the justice you deserve. Schedule your free consultation with an Austin watercraft accident attorney and let us get started.
What Are Common Causes of Watercraft Accidents in Texas?
Watercraft accidents can happen for a variety of different reasons. One of the most common reasons for these accidents is an inexperienced watercraft operator. In fact, roughly 70% of deaths from boating accidents happen in accidents involving an operator who did not have proper boating safety instruction.
Some additional causes of boating accidents include:
- Excessive speed
- Drug or alcohol use
- Improper lookout
- Distracted operator
- Equipment failure
- Poor weather conditions
- Unexpected swells or wakes
An experienced Austin personal injury lawyer can ensure that you receive full compensation from someone who negligently caused your injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Watercraft Accident Injuries?
Winning your case starts with determining who was responsible for your injuries. In some cases, the watercraft operator’s negligence may have caused your injuries. This requires proving a duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
However, the operator is not always the at-fault party, and some other parties who could face liability include:
- The watercraft manufacturer
- Third-party operators
- Service or maintenance providers
- Other watercraft passengers
At Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers, we will thoroughly investigate the accident to ensure that all negligent parties are held responsible for your damages.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Watercraft Accident Victims in Texas?
Victims who are injured in watercraft accidents are entitled to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate victims for their monetary losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and benefits
- Future lost earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
Proving the value of these losses is fairly easy. You should have bills, receipts, or other evidence that can prove their value. However, proving the value of your non-economic damages is much more challenging.
These damages compensate victims for their intangible losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Or even wrongful death
The value of your non-economic damages can easily exceed the value of your economic losses. In some cases, non-economic damages can exceed economic losses, depending on the severity and lasting impact of the injuries. Let the team at Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers help you determine all the damages that may be available in your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Watercraft Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas law allows accident victims two years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit for damages. Missing this deadline may cause you to lose all your rights to recover compensation for your injuries.
Even though the general rule is two years, there are some special situations in which the deadline may be different. For this reason, you should always get help from an experienced lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.
Contact Our Austin Watercraft Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt in a watercraft accident in Austin, TX, contact the experienced team at Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers today. Know that you do not have to go through this difficult time alone. Let us investigate your accident and gather the evidence to help you prove your case. Schedule your free consultation with an Austin watercraft accident lawyer who is ready to get started helping you today.