



Summertime is finally here, and more people are spending these warm months on the water. Southeastern Virginia (VA) is blessed with great rivers, bays, coves, and inlets, like Hampton Roads itself, the Chesapeake Bay, the Lynnhaven River, and the James River. However, not everyone stops to think about the dangers of their boating pastime. Every year, there are numerous boating accidents that result in injury or death. Common dangers on the water include fires, accidental drowning, loss of limbs, and electrocution. As a practicing attorney specializing in injury law as well as maritime law, I often hear from clients involved in boating accidents of this kind, who are seeking advice on what to do next. Victims, or families of victims involved in boating accidents have a right to file claims against those they believe to be at fault, and to seek damages for injuries or wrongful death from the responsible insurance companies.
Unfortunately, many boating accidents are due to negligence. Accidents are often caused by individuals with little boating experience, who take boats out without proper knowledge of boating rules and safety. When driving a car, we expect other drivers to obey the rules of the road, and this holds true for boaters when they are out on the water as well. Knowledge of boating rules and compliance with safety standards such as having lifejackets onboard can be a critical step in accident prevention. Those operating watercraft without adequate education on proper rules and boating safety are putting others at risk.
A boating mishap can quickly turn into a crisis if not handled properly. Accidents can range from improper anchoring, vessels capsizing, to more serious calamities such as collisions, or even hitting overhead power lines. A child could also get hurt waterskiing in Norfolk on the Lafayette River or get a head injury in a jet ski collision in Broad Bay in Virginia Beach.
Faulty manufacturing of boats or boating equipment can play a part in accidents as well. In these types of cases, companies who produce or manufacture the defective product can be found liable. If you have been injured in a boating accident that was caused by negligence, or substandard equipment, you should seek legal advice.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.
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Our Injury Lawyers Have Been Selected For Many Achievements Outlined Below:
Several Injury Attorneys With Our Firm have been included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition (Lewis-Injury Law, Shapiro-Railroad Injury Law) and been Named As Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009 Ed.)(Less than 5% of Outstanding Lawyers are Chosen); also selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Lewis, Shapiro - 2009); named among the Top 100 Lawyers in Virginia by ATLA (Shapiro - 2009), and our law firm was the first Injury Law Firm in Virginia Invited to Join Primerus, a select group of Highly Ethical, Respected Law Firms .
In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained, what was then, the largest record verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person (46 Million Dollar Verdict, with Interest, 60 Million Dollars, Settled confidentially during appeal). Click on icons for more details.
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Our personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases throughout the eastern USA, and work closely with lawyers in other states on signficant injury cases.
As to Virginia (VA), this includes: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Richmond (entire area), Petersburg, Roanoke/Salem, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, all areas of the Eastern Shore, including Accomack, Onancock, Chincoteauge, Wachapreague, and Cape Charles, Bloxom, Eastville, Exmore, Greenbackville, Machipongo, Mappsville, Melfa, Nassawadox, Onley, Tangier, Temperanceville, Wachapreague, and Wallops Island, Ashland, Big Stone Gap and any other city/ounty.
As to West Virginia (WV) personal injury claims: Bluefield, Beckley, Bridgeport, Charles Town, Charleston, Fairmont, Huntington, Lewisburg, Madison, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Moundsville, Parkersburg, Ripley, Sutton, Weirton, Wheeling, and any other town or county.
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