If you are injured in a boating accident near Johnson City, such as at nearby Boone Lake or Watauga Lake, and it was due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact The Terry Law Firm’s skilled boat accident lawyers now for a free consultation to learn more about your rights and options for a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim after a boat accident in Johnson City.
Top Reasons to Select Our Johnson City Boat Accident Law Firm
The Terry Law Firm’s dedicated personal injury lawyers have over 90 years of combined legal experience. When you work with us, you receive the quality legal counsel and personalized service that has helped us secure millions of dollars for our clients in personal injury cases, including $1 million for a victim of boating negligence.
Our family tradition of quality legal services has continued since 1960. We have the type of resources and know-how you would expect from a big-city law firm, but we still provide the kind of personalized attention only a small-town firm can offer.
Our past clients regularly leave positive reviews and recommend us to their friends and family who need legal assistance. For example, a previous client wrote:
“Everyone that I made contact with at The Terry Law Firm was professional, helpful with answering my questions, and very knowledgeable with the requirements necessary for my case. I would strongly recommend The Terry Law Firm to anyone.” – P.D.
Common Causes and Types of Boating Accidents in Johnson City, TN
Some of the most common causes of boating accidents fall under operator negligence. These causes include speeding, boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and inexperienced operation. Operator negligence can result in boats running aground, colliding with other vessels or fixed objects, or capsizing.
Other causes of boating accidents include:
- Mechanical failures, such as engine failures resulting in fire
- A lack of proper safety equipment, such as personal floatation devices and fire extinguishers
- Adverse weather conditions that inexperienced boat operators may be unprepared for
Severe Injuries Resulting from Watercraft Accidents
Boating accident victims can suffer from serious injuries that leave them with long-term or permanent disability. Some examples of potential injuries from a boat accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull after an impact. These injuries can result in permanent cognitive and physical disabilities.
- Spinal cord injuries – SCIs are caused by damage to the spinal column and can result in chronic pain or partial or complete paralysis in severe cases.
- Drowning – Drowning incidents are often caused by overboard or capsizing events when passengers don’t have the proper flotation devices. These injuries can cause permanent disability or death.
- Lacerations – Being struck by propellers and other sharp objects can cause deep lacerations that require extensive stitches.
- Burns and electrocutions – While many people don’t think about having to worry about fire on a lake or river, electrical fires on boats are a common hazard.
Who Is Responsible for My Johnson City Boat Accident?
Our personal injury attorneys can help identify the parties liable for your injuries and losses in a boating accident. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, some of the parties who could be liable include:
- Boat operators whose negligence contributed to the accident
- Boat owners who allowed inexperienced operators to control the vessel or didn’t equip the vessel with the proper safety equipment
- Boat maintenance providers who failed to provide adequate maintenance, resulting in mechanical failure
- Boat manufacturers, if a defective product contributed to the accident
- Safety equipment manufacturers, if defective equipment failed to protect passengers from harm, such as a faulty life preserver
How Much Is My Watercraft Accident Claim Worth?
While no one can tell you how much your specific watercraft accident claim could be worth without first reviewing your case, the value depends largely on the severity of your injuries and the liable parties’ insurance policy limits and assets. Tennessee generally doesn’t require boating insurance, but many boat owners have it.
Through your boating accident lawsuit, you can seek compensation for the following losses:
- Your past and future medical expenses related to the accident
- The wages you lost while recovering from your injuries
- The wages you will lose because of your injuries on your ability to work
- The physical pain and emotional suffering you experience because of your injuries
- The cost of accommodating any permanent disabilities you suffered
- Wrongful death benefits for surviving family members after a fatal boat accident
Tennessee Laws Governing Recreational Boating
Several Tennessee boating laws play critical roles in boat accident personal injury lawsuits. Our experienced lawyers can help you understand these laws on your particular situation.
Statute of Limitations
Under TN Code Section 28-3-104, boat accident victims have only one year to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries. Failing to file your lawsuit within the deadline will result in the courts barring you from seeking compensation. Because the time limit is so short, it’s vital that you begin working with our Johnson City personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.
Modified Comparative Fault
Under the state’s modified comparative fault rule, as long as a plaintiff’s degree of fault is less than the combined fault of all defendants (that is, less than 50 percent), they can seek compensation. However, their compensation will be reduced by a percentage equal to their degree of fault.
Boat Safety Equipment Requirements
Tennessee has several boat safety laws mandating personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, and lights on watercraft. Failure to follow these laws could be evidence of negligence.
All children 12 and younger must wear a personal flotation device when on the open deck of a moving watercraft. All boats must also have enough personal flotation devices for everyone on board.
Boats 26 feet or longer with inboard engines or closed compartments must have fire extinguishers on board. All boats operating between dusk and dawn must have appropriate lights so operators of other vessels can see them.
Ways Our Johnson City Boat Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you suffered a boating injury in Johnson City or elsewhere in East Tennessee, contact The Terry Law Firm for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Our team can thoroughly investigate your case to identify the liable parties and gather evidence, negotiate with the insurance companies for you, and represent you at trial if the insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement.