Contact a boating accident lawyer in Michigan when a fun day on the water turns tragic

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Boating accidents not only can cause damage to watercraft but also can result in the drowning of innocent persons. Boating is a great way to enjoy the rivers and lakes of Michigan's Water Wonderland but far too often tragedy results because of the carelessness of a watercraft operator, so be ready to contact a boating accident lawyer in Michigan should tragedy strike.

Operators of boats, like automobile and truck drivers, have a legal obligation to operate watercraft in a safe manner. The major causes of boat accidents are operator inattention, careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and failure to have a proper lookout. If you’re injured in a boating accident you need a Michigan boat accident attorney.

If you, or someone you care about, has been the unfortunate victim of a boating accident, you should call Cochran, Foley & Associates Michigan boat accident attorney team at 800-322-5543 and ask for Terry Cochran or Lynn Foley. Both possess the special knowledge, based on their extensive boating accident attorney experience, needed to make sure all necessary evidence has been gathered and to determine what legal action should be taken to protect your interests and future.

In Michigan it is a crime to operate a boat in a reckless or negligent manner. In addition to criminal penalties, boat operators also can be sued for negligence if their carelessness causes someone to get hurt. If a boat operator drives too fast for conditions and collides with another boat or object and someone gets hurt, the injured party may be entitled to sue and collect a monetary award.

Civil and criminal liability also may result when a boat operator causes an injury while operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. In Michigan, an operator's boat may be confiscated if he is under the influence of alcohol.

Drinking and boating is very dangerous, and if injury results you should call a boating accident attorney. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10 are more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than those with a blood alcohol level of zero.

Although most boating accidents occur because of the operator's negligence or recklessness, some boating accidents happen because of a defect in the boat itself, either in the boat's machinery or its hull (the body of the vessel). When an injury results because of the defective or dangerous condition of a boat, the injured person may have a product liability case against the manufacturer of the boat.

The attorneys at Cochran & Foley have the skills, legal knowledge and experience needed to protect people who have suffered personal injury or the death of a loved one because of a boating accident and will seek to win payment for their clients' injuries, expenses, and loss.

Actual damages can be awarded for medical bills, lost income, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, mental stress, permanent disability and similar hardships.

Punitive damages, above and beyond those actually incurred by the victim, are intended to punish the guilty party for reckless or inappropriate behavior. Punitive damages also can function as a deterrent for others.

An attorney can collect damages for your family by proving that the boat operator was negligent or that the boat's machinery or hull was defective. Cochran & Foley will ensure a family's economic security, will seek reimbursements for other economic loss, and will ensure justice by pursuing punitive damages.

Victims should not hesitate from filing a lawsuit for fear of filing a frivolous lawsuit. That's propaganda created by the insurance industry. Let your attorney, not an insurance agent, determine what's frivolous and when justice should be pursued.

In America, a jury makes a decision on damages after hearing all of the evidence. The jury award is designed to compensate the injury victim. A fundamental right of all Americans is a trial by jury, allowing our fellow citizens to hear our case and to make a decision. Do not give up any of your rights as a citizen!

Statutes of limitation limit the length of time you have to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file a lawsuit within that time period you may forever be denied the justice due you. If you have been injured in an airplane and believe that you have a case, it is critical that you seek legal help quickly.

If you believe you are a victim, let Cochran, Foley & Associates fight for your rights. There is no obligation for case evaluation and no fee is charged unless a recovery is made. Click here for a free consultation or call 800-322-5543 and ask for Terry Cochran or Lynn Foley.