Boating Accident Attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Located between the Ozark Mountains and the Great Plains, Oklahoma is among the landlocked states in the United States. Regardless, rivers, reservoirs, and lakes across the state—including Broken Bow Lake, Lake Murray, Fort Supply Reservoir, and more—offer amazing opportunities for boating, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, and other outdoor water activities. However, like motorists on the road, boaters are also exposed to potential risks, accidents, and mishaps. 

If you or someone close to you was hurt in a boating accident caused by someone else's negligence or carelessness, you are within your rights to pursue fair financial compensation through an injury claim. At the Law Offices of Jeff Martin, we are ready and poised to guide and represent boating accident victims in their injury claims. Our highly-skilled Oklahoma personal injury attorneys will fight vigorously for your best interests and help you pursue the maximum available damages for your injuries. 

The Law Offices of Jeff Martin proudly serves clients in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas throughout Eastern Oklahoma, including McAlester, Muskogee, and Bartlesville.

Boating Accidents in Oklahoma  

In order to lawfully operate your vessel on public waters in Oklahoma, you must have a valid Oklahoma Certificate of Registration and validation decals. Generally, all watercraft—motorized vessels and boats—must be registered in the state, except: 

• Manually-propelled vessels without motors, such as kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats. 

• Vessels already registered in another state but using Oklahoma waters for less than 60 days. 

• U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels using Oklahoma waters for less than 60 days. 

• Vessels that are used exclusively for racing purposes alone. 

Types of Boating Accidents 

Some common causes and types of boating accidents include the following: 

• Equipment failure 

• Collisions with other vessels or boats 

• Fires 

• Collisions with fixed objects 

• Accidents involving someone on a towable object 

• Hitting a wave 

• Carbon monoxide poisoning 

• Capsizing, swamping, sinking, or running aground 

• Hitting another boat's wake 

• Explosions 

• Operator errors 

• Falls overboard 

• Accidents involving a skier 

• Flooding 

• Failure to have the necessary safety equipment on board 

If you (or a loved one) were involved in a boating accident caused by a negligent party, reach out to a reliable personal injury attorney immediately. Your legal counsel can review all of the surrounding facts of your unique situation carefully, help identify the negligent party, and seek to prove fault, fighting for the compensation you deserve.

Liability for a Boating Accident 

Depending on the surrounding circumstances and events leading to the incident, several parties or entities may be held responsible for a boating crash. These include the following: 

• The owner or driver of the other boat that was involved in the accident 

• The owner or driver of the boat the injured person was riding 

• The owner of the dock 

• The manufacturer of the boat or equipment 

• Drunk boating 

• Any other party who carelessly or negligently contributed to the boating accident or your injuries 

Don’t face this alone. At the Law Offices of Jeff Martin, our lawyers can advocate for your best interests, help determine the liable party, prove negligence, and file multiple claims on your behalf. 

Proving Negligence 

Furthermore, to prove fault and establish liability in a boating accident claim, the claimant must prove the following elements: 

• The at-fault party (defendant) owed you a legal duty of care. 

• The defendant breached their expected duty of care by acting negligently. 

• The defendant's breach or careless actions caused your injuries. 

• You suffered physical injury, actual harm, or other damages and losses from the incident. 

Reliable and skilled lawyers can assess the magnitude of your injuries and damages, seek to establish liability, and attempt to pursue your rightful financial compensation. 

Compensable Damages 

The following damages may be recovered by filing a boating accident claim in Oklahoma: 

• Medical expenses, including the cost of ongoing and future medical treatments 

• Medical supplies and medication 

• Lost income and other benefits 

• Lost or reduced earning capacity         

• Physical therapy        

• Physical impairment 

• Emotional distress 

• Disfigurement 

• Replacement or repair of damaged property      

• Mental anguish 

• Disability 

• Pain and suffering 

• Loss of enjoyment of life 

• Attorney fees and court costs 

• Loss of consortium 

• Wrongful death damages, if applicable 

• Punitive damages to further punish the defendant for their egregious conduct 

A trusted attorney can walk you through the personal injury claims process and help you pursue fair financial compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. 

Work With a Seasoned Personal Injury Attorney 

Getting hurt in a boating accident can be difficult and unsettling. Such an unfortunate incident can hurt you physically, mentally, and financially. Nonetheless, you don't have to suffer the financial liability and pain all on your own. Therefore, when injured in a boating accident, retaining a seasoned personal injury attorney is imperative to help protect your rights and pursue fair financial compensation. 

At the Law Offices of Jeff Martin, we have devoted our careers to advocating for the best interests of boating accident victims and their families. Using our extensive knowledge, we can guide you through the complex procedures involved in filing claims and seeking damages. Our skilled attorneys will fight vigorously for your rights and help you hold those responsible for your injuries accountable.