Monmouth and Ocean County Boating Accident Attorneys

Seeking Compensation for Boat Accident Injuries in Freehold, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, and Across New Jersey

As warmer weather approaches, the boating season is well on its way. Sunny skies and warm temperatures tempt captains and passengers alike to take their yachts and speedboats out for a spin at the Jersey Shore, on the Maurice, or the Delaware Rivers. New Jersey has a relatively low population of boat owners compared to other states on the northeastern coast, at 14 boat owners per 1,000 people. The New Jersey boating season typically runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Many boaters take advantage of the warm summer weather to enjoy water sports, fishing, and recreational boating activities.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, there are over 160,000 registered boats in New Jersey as of 2021. New Jersey has over 130 miles of Atlantic coastline and numerous lakes, rivers, and bays, making it a popular destination for boaters. The most popular boats registered in New Jersey are powerboats, personal watercraft (such as jet skis), and sailboats. The top five counties in New Jersey with the highest number of registered boats are Ocean, Monmouth, Atlantic, Cape May, and Bergen. As may be expected, with boating comes boating accidents, some of which result in serious injuries. When boating accidents leave injured victims, questions arise as to who may be at fault for the accident and what legal avenues may be pursued to recover compensation from those responsible.

Every type of accident has specific issues to address; boating accidents, in particular, have several nuances. If you were involved and injured in a boating accident, it’s important to seek the guidance and counsel of the experienced personal injury lawyers at Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh. You can seek just compensation if someone else’s negligence has harmed you in Long Branch, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Island Heights, Asbury Park, Beach Haven, Bradley Beach, Toms River, and other communities across the New Jersey Shore. Don’t hesitate to contact our New Jersey boating accident attorneys for a free initial consultation by calling (732) 440-3950 or requesting a free case review.

New Jersey Boating Accidents by the Numbers

In New Jersey in 2021, there were 100 boating accidents, with seven fatalities and 44 non-fatal injuries. The reported damages were more than $1 million. In terms of boating under the influence (BUI) arrests, the New Jersey State Police reported 112 BUI arrests in 2021. It was reported that most accidents occurred during clear weather and calm waters, with little wind or other hazards. 83% of the deaths were drownings, as no life jackets were used, and three-fourths of the accidents occurred when the boat operator had not taken a boat safety course that met the National Boating Education Standards. Motorboats, personal watercraft, and cabin motorboats are the most popular types of boats, but kayaks, open motorboats, and pontoons were the vessels with the most accidents.

Top Reasons For Boating Accidents in New Jersey

There are several reasons why boating accidents occur. Sometimes, the same accident will have multiple factors.

• Inexperienced or distracted operators may be unable to properly navigate a boat, resulting in collisions with other boats or fixed objects such as rocks, docks, or shorelines.
• Boating at excessive speeds can cause operators to lose control of the vessel, leading to accidents and collisions. You may want to see how fast your speedboat can go or get goaded into a race with another boater, but the faster your boat moves, the more difficult it is to control.
• Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and can impair an operator’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to control the vessel. Party boats and pontoons are great places to celebrate, but the captain must stay sober. You never know if an emergency or some crazy weather will require a rapid return to shore, and if no one is sober enough to steer, everyone is in danger.
• Boating accidents can also occur due to mechanical failures of the boat’s equipment, such as steering, engine problems, or taking on water.
• Severe weather conditions such as high winds, waves, or storms can cause accidents on the water. Additionally, boating in areas with low visibility or unfamiliar waterways can increase the risk of accidents. Squalls can bring heavy winds and hard rain, and inexperienced boaters could have trouble maneuvering out of them safely, especially when dealing with a sailboat.
• Negligent or reckless behavior, such as horseplay or intentionally creating waves, can cause accidents on the water. Quick starts and stops for fun can end up tossing passengers overboard.
• Not following basic boating safety guidelines, such as wearing life jackets, maintaining a proper lookout, or following boating rules and regulations, can increase the risk of accidents.

Injuries Experienced in Boating Accidents

The most common fatal injury is drowning. Boaters and passengers find life jackets cumbersome and too hot in the summer. The notion exists that there will be time to put on a life jacket in the moment of the accident, and nothing could be further from the truth. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are common when slipping on a wet deck or hitting your head on the railing. Lacerations, sometimes from the rotor blades, if you get too close or crushed or severed limbs. Broken bones and injuries to joints, ligaments, and tendons are common. One of the most devastating injuries is spinal cord damage, which can result in paralysis.

Navigation Guidelines To Prevent Boat Crashes and Injuries on the Water

Operators should always be alert and maintain a lookout for other boats, floating objects, and hazards in the water. It is a good idea to ask a friend to help you, a co-captain. Inexperienced boaters should have a more seasoned boater for several trips to give them direction and advice. Similar to driving on the road, boats must keep to the right side of the waterway when navigating in opposite directions, and if two boats are coming straight at one another, they should both turn to the starboard side. The give-way vessel is the boat that must yield the right-of-way to the stand-on vessel. This is usually the boat that has the other vessel on its starboard side. The stand-on vessel (the boat going straight) has the right-of-way and should maintain its course and speed. It is the responsibility of the give-way vessel to avoid a collision. Boats should use sound signals to indicate their intentions when communicating with other boats, such as when passing another boat, entering or leaving a harbor, or in times of low visibility. Boats should always adhere to speed limits posted in their boating area. Slow speeds may be necessary for specific areas or in adverse weather conditions. Boaters should be aware of the designated anchorage areas and ensure they are not blocking channels or impeding the passage of other boats.

Determining Liability in a New Jersey Boating Accident

A boat operator who is negligent or under the influence of alcohol or drugs could be liable. When a boat owner allows someone who is impaired or not trained to operate the boat, they can be held liable. If the boat doesn’t have the necessary safety gear or needs repairs that the owner was aware of, the owner may be liable. If another passenger acted negligently, putting others in danger, that passenger could be held liable. Sometimes manufacturers create a mechanical defect when building the boat that could cause it to malfunction, causing an accident. In the same vein, if dockworkers or mechanics who provided repairs or maintenance on the boat were negligent in some way, they could be liable for the accident.

Getting Compensation After a Boating Accident

You can receive compensation for lost wages and future earning potential, medical expenses both now and in the future, emotional distress, physical therapy, damage to your boat, and pain and suffering.

Seek Trusted Legal Counsel from Jersey Shore Boat Accident Lawyers Today

Choosing a personal injury attorney with experience in these types of situations is of the utmost importance if you or a loved one has been hurt in a boating accident. Accidents of any kind are traumatizing and frightening, but you have rights. With over 50 years of experience handling these types of cases on behalf of injured victims, the lawyers at Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh will evaluate the crash, reconstruct the incident, and interview expert witnesses to build your case. We know how to gather witness statements and locate any recorded footage by anyone on the boat in Lavallette, Shrewsbury, Red Bank, Brick, Barnegat, Seaside Heights, Manasquan, Neptune, Asbury Park, and throughout Southern New Jersey. We will work with you step by step, reviewing your medical records and negotiating with the insurance company to obtain the best settlement possible. If your case requires litigation at trial to achieve maximum damages, we will head to court with a well-devised case to prove liability.

Start the process by calling (732) 440-3950 for your free consultation. It is important to remember that the statute of limitations on this kind of case is two years from the date of the accident. Don’t let time run out on your chance at compensation.