San Bernardino Boating Accident Lawyer
San Bernardino Boating Accident Attorney
Boating is very popular in the San Bernardino area and throughout California, but it is vital for anyone who spends time on the water to know what to do if they experience a boating accident. In many ways, resolving a boating accident is similar to how one must approach any standard vehicle accident on land. However, boating accidents have a high chance of resulting in significant and complex damages, and the evidence a victim may need to prove fault may not be as plentiful as it would after a vehicle crash on land.
Experienced Legal Counsel for Boating Accident Claims in San Bernardino, CA
If you or a loved one is struggling with injuries and economic losses sustained in a boating accident that someone else caused, you need an experienced attorney to help you determine your most viable recovery options. The right San Bernardino boating accident attorney is an invaluable asset in this situation who can help you streamline your path to recovery and maximize the compensation you obtain for your losses.
Easton & Easton can provide the comprehensive legal counsel you need for your boat accident claim in San Bernardino. Our firm has decades of professional experience helping our clients navigate the toughest civil claims for damages, including those arising from boating accidents on local waterways. Whatever your case entails, our firm can provide ongoing support through all stages of your recovery, helping you to build a comprehensive personal injury claim in San Bernardino that aims for maximum compensation for your damages.
Proving Fault for Your Boating Accident
Before you can recover any compensation for the damages you suffered in your recent boating accident, you must prove exactly how the accident occurred and identify the party or parties responsible for causing it. Boating accidents can happen in various ways, including:
- Underwater hazards. Boat operators must remain alert for any potential obstructions that could damage their vessel.
- Impaired operation. The state’s laws against driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs apply to boats just as they apply to driving on land. If a boat operator causes an accident due to intoxication, they face liability for all resulting damages along with criminal prosecution.
- No-wake zone violations. No-wake zones are waterways in which boat operators may not travel fast enough to produce a wake behind their vessels. Wakes can injure swimmers or cause serious damage to nearby smaller watercraft, potentially causing them to sink.
- Collisions with other vessels. Boat operators should be sure to track their surroundings and travel at a reasonable speed, so they have time to avoid a collision if necessary.
- Onboard fires. Boat operators must ensure they have operable fire extinguishers onboard in case of a critical engine failure or other fire hazard.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the possible ways for a boating accident to happen. No matter how your recent boating accident occurred, you will need an experienced attorney to help you gather the evidence needed to firmly establish liability for your damages, prove the full scope of those damages, and recover as much compensation as state law allows from the defendant responsible for causing the accident.
Claimable Damages in Your Boating Accident Case
The main goal of your personal injury case is to prove liability for your boating accident and hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm they’ve done. The state’s personal injury laws allow a plaintiff to seek full repayment of all economic damages they suffered due to another party’s actions, and these may include long-term damages depending on the severity of the incident. Your claimable economic losses in your boating accident case are likely to include:
- Medical expenses. If another party physically injured you, they are responsible for all associated medical treatment costs. These may include immediate healthcare expenses such as hospital bills along with long-term rehabilitation costs if you suffered severe injuries.
- Lost wages. If your accident has left you unable to work, the defendant who caused the accident is responsible for the money you cannot earn. Your attorney can help you accurately calculate the value of any vacation time you were forced to use after the accident as well.
- Lost earning capacity. When a plaintiff has been permanently disabled by another party’s actions, the at-fault party becomes responsible for the future income the victim is no longer able to earn. Your San Bernardino boating accident attorney can help you calculate the future income you would have been able to earn if you hadn’t been injured by assessing your age, current earning level, and how long you would have likely continued working in the future if the accident hadn’t happened.
- Property damage. If another party is responsible for damaging or destroying any of your personal property, you can claim compensation for all associated repair or replacement costs.
Once you have an experienced attorney assisting you who can help you accurately calculate the full scope of immediate and long-term economic damages you can claim from the defendant, you may learn that your case is more valuable than you initially anticipated. However, state law also allows you to seek compensation for your non-economic damages.
Claiming compensation for non-economic damages applies to the physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma a defendant inflicted with their negligence or misconduct. There is no limit on the amount of pain and suffering recompense you are allowed to claim from a defendant, and your attorney can help you determine an amount that reasonably reflects the extent of the harm you suffered and the long-term effects of your injuries.
Ultimately, to have the greatest chance of success in not only winning your case but also securing maximum compensation for your damages, you need legal counsel that you trust on your side. The team at Easton & Easton has decades of professional experience handling all types of complex civil claims for damages for clients in San Bernardino and surrounding communities, and we are standing by to provide the support you need for your impending boating accident claim.
FAQs for Watercraft Accident Attorneys
Q: What Do You Do First After a Boating Accident?
A: If any boating accident causes property damage, bodily injury, or death, the boat operator is legally required to stop their vessel immediately and report the accident to the authorities. Failure to do so can lead to severe criminal penalties, including fines or even imprisonment. Those involved in a boating accident should remain at the scene until first responders arrive to render aid.
Q: How Do I Prove Liability for a Boating Accident?
A: Your San Bernardino boating accident attorney can be invaluable for the help they can provide in proving fault for your accident. You may need various forms of evidence to firmly establish liability, and the sooner you connect with an attorney the more likely you are to succeed in proving fault for the incident. Physical evidence, witness testimony from those who saw the accident happen, and expert witness testimony could all factor into your case.
Q: How Much Recompense Can I Claim for a Boating Accident in San Bernardino?
A: A personal injury claim for a boating accident has the potential to yield compensation for all economic losses you suffered in the event along with compensation for your pain and suffering. The state’s personal injury law allows you to seek compensation for property damage, medical expenses, lost income, and as much compensation as you believe to be appropriate to reflect your pain and suffering. A good attorney can offer an estimate of your case’s total potential value.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Boating Accident Claim?
A: If you intend to pursue any type of personal injury case, you must do so within the applicable statute of limitations. For most personal injury claims, this limitation is two years and starts on the date an injury occurred. Failure to file your claim within this time limit would mean losing your ability to recover compensation from the defendant, so it is vital to find an attorney that you trust with your case as soon as possible.
Q: What Does a San Bernardino Boating Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?
A: Legal counsel is more accessible than you may think if you choose a San Bernardino boating accident attorney to represent you under a contingency fee agreement. With contingency fee billing, a plaintiff only pays their attorney a fee if and when the attorney wins their case, and the fee is a percentage of the total compensation won from the defendant. There is no fee at all if the attorney cannot recover a case award for the plaintiff, so there is no risk of paying more in legal fees than you win from your case with this billing arrangement.
The right attorney on your side is a tremendous asset no matter what your case entails. When you choose the team at Easton & Easton to represent you, we will do everything we can to maximize your total compensation as much as state law allows and streamline your proceedings so you can recover as quickly as possible from your boating accident. If you are ready to learn what an experienced San Bernardino boating accident attorney can do for you in your recovery efforts, contact us today to schedule your consultation with our team.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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…
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…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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