Toronto Boating Accident Lawyers
Boating is incredibly popular across Canada. Unfortunately, Toronto boating accident lawyers are kept busy with dozens of cases involving serious injuries and deaths on Ontario’s waterways each year.
Causes of Boating Accidents in Ontario
Ontario is home to hundreds of thousands of lakes and over 100,000 kilometres of river, making it a paradise for recreational boaters. From the veritable inland seas that are the Great Lakes in the province’s south to the maze of waterways checkering its north, roughly one-fifth of the world’s fresh water can be found in Canada’s most populous province.
Although boating in Ontario is not policed as tightly driving, boaters are subject to the same rules and restrictions as motorists. Just like on the road, there are regulations against speeding, reckless driving, intoxication, and other risky behaviours on the water. In fact, the relationship between boating and driving laws is so close that infractions on the water can affect your driving record.
With that in mind, here are some of the main causes of boating accidents in Ontario:
- Distraction, whether from passengers, mobile devices, or other
- Equipment failure
- Failure to prepare for inclement weather
- Speeding
- Drowsy boating
- Impairment by drugs or alcohol
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving any of these factors, contact a Toronto boating accident lawyer to review your legal options.
Common Boating Accident Injuries
Though most boating accident injuries are fairly mild, serious and even life-threatening injuries are not uncommon. The most serious injuries often occur during high-risk behaviour – reckless boating, speeding, etc. – but boating deaths have occurred on quiet canoe rides, as well.
Some of the most common forms of boating accident injuries include:
- Head injuries including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck and back injuries, including spinal cord injuries causing full or partial paralysis
- Broken bones, separations, internal injuries, and lacerations
Anyone who has experienced one of these injuries as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another boater should immediately consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Road safety is a hot topic in Toronto, for good reason: traffic fatalities in the city have surged in recent years. ATV and off-road vehicle accidents are a seasonal point of concern for law enforcement, too. But boating injuries are often overlooked in discussions about safety concerns in the province. As any Toronto boating accident lawyer can attest, this is a glaring omission.
How a Toronto Boating Accident Lawyer Can Help
Despite the close relationship between boating and driving laws, boating accident injury victims have fewer options than people hurt in motor vehicle collisions. The primary reason for this gap is the lake of no-fault accident benefits available under Ontario’s statutory accident benefits schedule. To complicate matters further, Ontario boaters are not mandated to insure their watercrafts, so recovering compensation can be challenging even when a person is deemed liable for your injuries.
Having said that, an experienced Toronto boating accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for your boating accident injuries. Some of the damages for which you may seek compensation include:
- Medical, rehabilitation, long-term care, and home renovation expenses
- Lost income and future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Your family’s pain, suffering, and loss of guidance and companionship
If you or a member of your family have been injured in a serious boating accident, a Toronto boating accident lawyer may be able to help. Most personal injury lawyers in Toronto offer free, no-obligation consultations where you can discuss the specifics of your injury and review your legal options. Most also offer services on a contingency basis, meaning you will not be asked to pay legal fees until your claim has been successfully resolved and your compensation delivered. If the lawyer is unable to secure compensation, you will not be asked to pay fees.
Contact a Boating Accident Lawyer Toronto
Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers has been representing seriously injured accident victims in Ontario for decades. Our experienced team understands the grave physical, mental, emotional, and financial challenges that accompany life-changing injuries, and are committed to providing access to compensation that reflects the scope of those challenges. Reach out today to arrange your free consultation and learn how Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers can help you on the road to recovery.
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