As fun as boating can be, there’s always a risk of boat accidents on the water, depending on the situation. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources showed that in 2019, there were 146 boating accidents, which resulted in 14 fatalities. Boating accident injuries can be as minor as a few cuts and bruises or could result in a passenger losing their life.
If you or a loved one were the victim of a boating accident in South Carolina, reach out to our Moncks Corner boat accident attorney to request a case evaluation. At West Law Firm, our team has many years of courtroom experience and is dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve.
Examples of Boating Accident Injuries
If a negligent or irresponsible boater causes a boating accident with somebody else, this can result in serious bodily injuries. Even the most minor boating injuries could result in weeks or months of recovery time, while more severe injuries could take years to recover from.
Drowning
The most severe boating accident injury is drowning or oxygen deprivation. Unfortunately, drownings occur more frequently than people realize, as passengers may not be strong swimmers. If they are injured or unconscious in the water, drowning is a much more likely outcome.
Some victims are rescued in time to be saved but may sustain brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation. This can take years to recover from, or they may never recover their mental abilities.
Broken bones
Even if passengers do not fall into the water, the force of the collision can cause other extensive injuries, such as broken bones.
Passengers may fall and hit hard surfaces on the boat, resulting in broken bones in the extremities, facial bones, and rib bones. These breaks may not be severe, but if the bones are shattered, this becomes much more detrimental to a boating accident victim’s overall health.
Concussion
Injuries in boat accidents may include concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury occurs when someone is hit on the head, or their head moves up or down very swiftly. The sudden movement or the impact causes the brain to move around in the skull.
How severe the concussion is will depend on how hard they were hit in the head or how viciously their head moved around. Keep in mind that concussions may not be noticeable after the accident, which is why immediate medical care is crucial.
Electrocution
Boating accidents can also cause electrocution. Boating vessels have electrical systems and appliances on board, which can cause a safety risk when they come in contact with the water.
Boating passengers may sustain electrical burns, electrocution, and heart attacks if they come into contact with these electrical components when wet.
Amputation
If the injuries suffered when a boat crashes are significant, amputation may be necessary to save a limb. Amputation is often a life-saving measure taken to prevent bleeding out or the spread of infection. Badly broken bones or deep lacerations could result in a medically needed amputation if the arm or leg is not salvageable.
Spinal cord injuries
Depending on the type of collision and where the passengers are, victims can sustain spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries can happen if a victim is struck with something during the collision or the body is thrown forcefully, causing damage to the vertebrae. These injuries can have significant implications, from short-term paralysis to permanent paralysis.
Lacerations
Of all the injuries you could sustain in an accident, flesh wounds are usually less severe, but that isn’t always the case. Lacerations can include anything from scrapes and cuts to internal soft tissue damage. Things like the propeller blades can cause deep cuts, which heightens the risk of bleeding out.
More severe lacerations can also result in disfigurement and long-term health issues, such as chronic pain.
Compensation for Boating Accident Injuries
Getting into a boating accident can have a life-altering effect depending on the extent of your injuries. If you were not at fault in this accident, you have every right to file a claim to try to receive compensation for damages.
In South Carolina, you can try to get compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include things like medical bills, property damage, and lost wages due to the accident.
Non-economic damages are a little more complicated since they don’t usually have a dollar value. These damages include pain and suffering and the impact the accident has had on your quality of life.
Your boating accident attorney can help you prove damages through medical documentation, medical expert statements, and proof of financial loss.
Contact a Boating Lawyer Located in Moncks Corner, SC
Many boating accidents result in some kind of boating accident injuries to the driver and passengers. If you were not at fault for the accident, it’s crucial that you file a claim to get the injury compensation you need for things like medical costs and recovery time.
At West Law Firm, we handle a wide variety of personal injury cases in Moncks Corner, SC, and we are dedicated to getting you the best possible outcome. Call us today at 843-483-8630 or online for your free consultation.