The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) provides two ways for boaters under 16 years of age to take boater education courses that are required to be passed before they can legally operate a 15 horsepower motor-powered boat or personal watercraft (jet ski) without supervision: instructor-led classes and an online course. Boater education classes generally provide students with a solid understanding of how to safely operate vessels.
Even experienced boaters can be prone to moments of negligence, and South Carolina’s thousands of miles of coastline along with numerous rivers and lakes make it a common location for severe boating accidents. People who have sustained serious injuries in any kinds of boat accident in South Carolina will want to immediately contact the Nye Law Group for help obtaining all of the compensation that they are entitled to.
Recreational Boat Accidents in South Carolina
People who are operating their own vessels can be involved in boat collisions that are caused by the negligence of other parties. Some of the most common kinds of boater negligence include, but are not limited to:
- Operating while impaired;
- Speeding;
- Distracted operator;
- Failure to observe others; or
- Operator inexperience.
Boaters in South Carolina are expected to operate with a reasonable duty of care toward other boaters, and a breach of this duty that causes injuries to another party can make the negligent party liable to the victims for their injuries. Unlike automobile insurance, boaters are not required to maintain insurance policies. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can assist you in making sure the negligent party is held accountable.
Passenger Injuries in South Carolina Boating Accidents
It is rarely just the boat operators who suffer injuries in boating accidents. Recreational and commercial boats alike often contain multiple passengers. People aboard boats involved in collisions or other accidents are left exposed to several dangers that can result in severe harm.
When a passenger is injured in a boating accident, the nature of the claim can change, depending on the party that was at fault. If the vessel the person was a passenger on was struck by another negligent party, then a claim would be filed against that negligent party.
If a person is injured on a boat because of the negligence of that vessel’s operator or owner, then the victim would seek compensation from that party for failure to provide a safe premises. Boat owners can also be held liable for unsafe practices (such as boating in adverse weather) or failure to provide adequate safety measures (such as the personal flotation devices required by law).
Find a Boating Accident Lawyer in South Carolina
Did you suffer catastrophic injuries or was your loved one killed in a boating accident in South Carolina? You should contact the Nye Law Group as soon as possible to seek legal recourse.
Our experienced Bluffton personal injury attorneys fight to get accident victims all of the compensation they need and deserve. Call 855-636-9277 or contact us online to have our firm provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.
