Seattle Boating & Personal Watercraft Accidents
Washington State is home to many bodies of water. From Puget Sound to Lake Washington to Lake Chelan, residents in and around the Seattle area and Washington State enjoy year-round boating. Unfortunately, when boaters and operators of personal watercraft fail to follow basic rules, accidents occur, causing serious and often fatal injuries.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a boating accident in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Edmonds, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Renton, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Burien, Everett, Auburn, Kent, Issaquah, Tacoma or anywhere in Washington State, and you need legal representation or advice, contact Kenneth Selander, Jr. today. Call 1-866-681-0002 or submit an online contact form.
What causes most boating accidents? Alcohol and other reckless behavior play a role in accidents involving a boat or personal watercraft (such as a Jet Ski). Inexperience is another common factor. While most of us would never “assume” we could drive simply by picking up a set of car keys, some boaters make similar assumptions about their ability to operate a water vessel without proper training.
Washington Boating Law
Washington law has recently changed and new legislation mandates that anyone 12 years and older operating a boat with an engine of 15 horsepower or higher must obtain a Boater Education Card. This card requires the boater to have taken a safety education class or passed an equivalency exam.
The law is being implemented in phases. As of Jan. 1, 2008, boaters 20 years of age and younger are required to obtain their Boater Education Card. By Jan. 1, 2009, boaters 25 years of age or younger will be required to have that card. The phase-in program will continue until 2016 for various age groups. Boaters born before Jan. 1, 1955, will be exempt from having to obtain a card.
There are steps you can take to minimize your risk for a boating accident injury:
- Never dive into water unless you know its depth and have checked for potential obstacles.
- Always closely supervise children and poor swimmers.
- Never mix alcohol with wakeboarding and waterskiing.
- Most importantly – always wear a life jacket.
Our Experience
As an active boater who enjoys waterskiing, wake surfing and wakeboarding, Kenneth Selander, Jr. understands that even when you follow the rules other boaters may not act so responsibly. Our firm helps victims injured in boating accidents caused by the negligence of others – and we know that insurance companies have very strict policies regarding boating claims. Kenneth Selander, Jr. has prepared numerous claims for injured clients and knows how to build an effective case on your behalf.
When another boater’s negligence causes you pain, suffering and costly medical bills, you need experienced legal representation from a firm familiar with Washington boating accident claims and maritime law. With more than 20 years of experience in all kinds of injury claims, Kenneth Selander, Jr. has built his reputation aggressively and ethically fighting for the legal rights of victims and their families. In fact, Washington Law & Politics Magazine has named Kenneth Selander, Jr. a SuperLawyer. That award is conferred on only the top 5% of attorneys in Washington State.
Our Commitment
When you contact the law firm of Selander O'Brien PLLC, you ensure that your case receives the full commitment of a skilled legal team. Here's what
one of our clients said about working with us: "Ken helped me immensely on two separate personal injury matters. I'd highly recommend him for any injury claim you might have."
We handle each case on an individual level, and we treat you and your family with the respect and compassion you deserve. We also do not charge attorney fees unless we recover damages for your case. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a boating accident around Seattle, contact Kenneth Selander, Jr. today by calling 1-866-681-0002 or submit an online contact form.
