Huntington Beach Boating Accident Lawyer

Huntington Beach Boating Accident Attorney

Boating is one of California’s most popular leisure activities on both the Pacific Ocean and the many inland rivers, lakes, and streams throughout the Golden State. Unfortunately, boating accidents can and do happen, including everything from burns on deck to drownings. If you or a loved one recently sustained a boating injury, an experienced Huntington Beach boat accident attorney is your best asset in securing compensation for your losses.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton in Huntington Beach, CA, have years of experience handling complex boating accident cases on behalf of our clients. Our personal injury law firm handles a wide range of cases, including claims for boating accident injuries in the Huntington Beach area. We strive to maximize our clients’ recovery in every case we represent. Our team understands how difficult it can be to assess your damages after a serious boating accident and it has the resources and experience to ensure the most successful results in our clients’ most difficult cases.

What Is the First Thing to Do When Involved in a Boating Accident?

Whenever a boating accident occurs in Huntington Beach, CA, if the boat or personal watercraft is still afloat, your priority should be to check everyone involved for injuries. If anyone needs medical attention, call for help immediately. If the boat capsized or sank, your priority should be to ensure everyone near the incident has a flotation device.

Boating accidents happen for many reasons, including:

  • Collision with hard-to-see underwater rocks or debris.
  • Collision with other vessels and personal watercraft.
  • Fires onboard from engine malfunctions.
  • Illegal behavior, such as operating a boat under the influence of alcohol.
  • Negligence, such as failing to pay attention while operating a boat.

No matter how a boating accident happened, your medical condition and that of everyone else involved should always be the top priority.

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What Is the First Action Required of a Boat Operator Involved in a Boating Accident?

Boat operators have unique duties of care immediately following any boat accident. The first action required of a boat operator involved in a boating accident is to stop the boat immediately at the accident scene. Next, they should check everyone involved for injuries unless doing so would require leaving the boat’s controls and potentially putting themselves and the others on the boat in immediate danger.

Who Is Liable in a Boating Accident?

Determining liability for a boating accident depends on how the accident occurred. One or more parties are potentially liable depending on the circumstances of the incident and the resulting damages. For example, a boat operator could face liability for multiple passengers’ damages if they failed to properly maintain their boat before leaving shore, if they did not have appropriate safety devices onboard, or operated the boat under the influence of alcohol. Boat operators will also absorb liability for a boating accident if they fail to heed posted waterway signals, buoys, and other warnings that indicate dangerous areas.

Third parties may also be liable for your recent boating accident. For example, if you are riding a personal watercraft and another watercraft operator crashes into you because they were not paying attention, they would be liable for your damages. A parts manufacturer may also absorb liability for a boating accident if an investigation reveals your boating accident occurred due to a defect in the boat, a vital part of the boat, or a piece of safety equipment.

What Is a Legal Reason to Report a Boating Accident?

Most drivers know that they should report any car accident to the police if it results in injury, death, or significant property damage. The same type of rule applies to boating accidents, but this law exists at the federal level. It is legally necessary to report any boating accident resulting in an estimated $2,000 or more in property damage, physical injury of any kind, or death. Failure to report boating accidents required by federal law can incur substantial penalties, including fines and jail time. Each state, including California, upholds its own laws regarding reporting requirements for boating accidents, so it is always best to err on the side of caution and report any boating accident you experience to the authorities immediately.

Why Do I Need a Boating Accident Attorney?

Boating accident claims are some of the most challenging motor vehicle accidents to handle. It is unlikely that the average person with no formal legal experience will be able to navigate the court procedures necessary for pursuing compensation in a boat accident claim. Additionally, even if they were successful, they would be very unlikely to secure as much compensation as experienced Huntington Beach boating accident attorneys could. Finally, it is very difficult to navigate any legal claim without representation even under the best of circumstances, so it will be extraordinarily difficult to do so while also suffering from severe injuries.

Hiring a boat accident lawyer to represent your claim means you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your case is in trustworthy hands as you focus on your recovery. If your case involves dealing with insurance companies, your personal injury attorney in Huntington Beach, CA can handle correspondence with claim adjusters on your behalf as well. Ultimately, you stand a much better chance of success with your boat accident claim when you work with an experienced Huntington Beach boating accident lawyer.

Damages and Compensation in Your Boat Accident Injury Claim

Boating accidents fall under the purview of personal injury law. Your Huntington beach boating accident attorneys will work closely with you to determine which parties bear liability for your damages and the full scope of damages you can expect to recover from your lawsuit. Boating accidents can be traumatic experiences that cause devastating physical injuries, and some boating accidents are tragically fatal. For example, many boating accident claims involve drowning injuries. While a drowning victim may be resuscitated and their life saved, the oxygen deprivation may cause significant brain damage and lead to permanent disability.

It’s essential to work with an experienced Huntington Beach boating accident lawyer to ensure you claim the correct amount of compensation in your lawsuit. Your boating accident claim could potentially allow you to recover damages such as:

  • Medical expenses. A personal injury plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for their immediate and anticipated future medical expenses resulting from the incident in question. If your boating accident resulted in a disability, you could expect to receive compensation for the long-term medical care you are likely to require. Otherwise, you can expect to receive compensation for all medical expenses necessary to help you reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries.
  • Lost wages. Your injury may leave you unable to work for a long time while you recover. You can claim income lost during this time as damages. If your injuries caused a permanent disability or condition that leaves you unable to return to work or unable to work at all in the future, your boat accident lawyers could help you secure compensation for lost future earning capacity.
  • Property damage. If your personal property was damaged or destroyed in a boating accident, you could claim these losses as well.
  • Pain and suffering. Many personal injuries are physically painful and emotionally traumatizing. California’s personal injury laws allow a plaintiff to recover compensation reflecting the physical pain and psychological suffering endured due to the defendant’s negligence.

Some plaintiffs may also receive additional compensation in the form of punitive damages. Judges will award punitive damages at their discretion when a defendant’s behavior exceeds the scope of typical negligence or was intentionally harmful. If the defendant engaged in any criminal action or deliberately intended to hurt the victim, they will likely face criminal prosecution as well as a civil claim from their victim, and restitution to the victim could be part of their sentence.

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Proving Liability for Your Boating Accident Injury

Your Huntington Beach boating accident attorneys at Easton & Easton can help you explore the full range of damages available to claim in your case, and we can also help you ensure the party responsible for your damages is held accountable. Personal injury law requires proof of negligence or a party’s failure to exercise a reasonable level of care in a given situation. When it comes to a boating accident, the defendant in your claim could be the operator of your boat, the operator of another personal watercraft, or any other party who caused your accident.

Establishing negligence requires proving the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached this duty of care in some way, and directly caused your claimed damages. You may only claim compensation for damages that directly resulted from the defendant’s negligence.

Proving liability in some boating accident claims is more complicated than it is in others. For example, you may face multiple defendants depending on how your accident occurred, and the court will ultimately decide each defendant’s percentage of responsibility for your losses. California also upholds a pure comparative negligence statute, meaning a plaintiff could potentially absorb partial liability for their claimed damages if they were in any way responsible for causing them. If found partially at fault, the plaintiff would lose a percentage of their case award equal to the fault percentage assigned by the judge overseeing the case. For example, if you claim $200,000 in damages and the court finds you 10% at fault, you will lose 10% or $20,000 of your case award and receive $180,000 instead.

What to Expect From Your Boating Accident Injury Lawyers

Navigating a boat accident claim is much easier when you have an experienced and reliable Huntington Beach boating accident lawyer on your side. A good attorney will begin representing your case by exploring the full scope of your damages. This often requires obtaining a medical report from the physician who treated your injuries after the accident, as well as their prognosis for future medical complications you are likely to experience from your injuries. Your attorney may also contact expert witnesses with backgrounds in specific medical fields to further solidify your claim for medical expenses and long-term medical costs resulting from your boating accident.

The next phase of your representation will likely focus on determining liability for your damages and gathering the evidence you will require for holding liable parties accountable for their actions. Your attorney can help you secure the police report from your boating accident, gather statements from eyewitnesses and other victims, and determine what other pieces of evidence will be necessary for your claim.

Settlement Vs. Litigation

The majority of personal injury claims filed in the United States settle outside of court. This saves all parties involved a significant amount of time and money. Once the defendant settles, they will be released from future liability related to the claim, and the plaintiff will secure compensation much more quickly through settlement. However, a settlement requires both parties to be willing to negotiate. A settlement is also more difficult when multiple defendants come into play. If a defendant contests liability or assumes liability but disagrees with the plaintiff’s amount of claimed damages, a settlement could prove unfruitful.

If the parties are unwilling to settle or settlement negotiations fail, the case will move to litigation. This can be a very lengthy process. Some personal injury claims could take several months or even over a year before the parties involved reach a resolution. Litigation begins with a discovery process during which the parties involved in the case share material evidence and conduct depositions. Next, the parties will have the opportunity to submit petitions for pre-trial motions and set the tone for the case. Finally, the case proceeds to court, where the judge will consider evidence and testimony before delivering a ruling that aligns with relevant state laws.

Find Your Legal Team Today

As your Huntington Beach boating accident attorneys, the team at Easton & Easton will do everything we can to streamline your case proceedings and secure maximum compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented many boating accident cases in California and can put our experience and resources to work in your claim. If you are ready to discuss your options for legal recourse with a compassionate and trustworthy Huntington Beach boating accident lawyer, contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a case review with our team.

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Firm Awards
Accredited Business Bbb Rating A+

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Best Law Firms Orange County 2020

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Reader's Choice 2019 Best Law Firm

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

The Best Lawyers in America

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.

Super Lawyers

Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.

People Love Us On Yelp

Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.

Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for 2015

Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent

Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.

10 Best 2015 Client Satisfaction

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.

American Board of Trial Advocate

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Avvo Rating Top Attorney Personal Injury

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.

Nation's Top One Percent

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!

-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.

They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.

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