If you were injured in a boating accident in North Myrtle Beach, SC, Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Call us today at (843) 390-9111 to schedule a free consultation with a North Myrtle Beach boating accident lawyer.
You may deserve significant compensation from the responsible party, but getting money in your pocket can be tough. An experienced North Myrtle Beach attorney can help you recover full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
With 58 years of legal experience, you can count on us to fight for every available dollar. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars since we opened our doors–and we’re ready to put our track record to work for you.
Contact our law firm in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to learn more about your rights.
Why Choose Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Boating Accident in North Myrtle Beach?
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers is an award-winning personal injury firm. We’ve dedicated our entire practice to helping accident victims take on powerful insurance companies and their defense teams.
When you hire us, you can expect us to put the full weight of our experience and resources to work in maximizing your compensation award.
Some of the benefits of hiring a North Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer include:
- Decades of experience in personal injury law
- Over 590 five-star Google reviews from satisfied clients
- Recognition as one of the “Top 100” law firms by The National Trial Lawyers
Additionally, our team knows the local waterways because we enjoy them ourselves during our free time. Whether it’s the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Little River Inlet, or the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, we understand both the beauty and the risks of boating in and around North Myrtle Beach.
That firsthand knowledge gives us unique insight into the dangers that boaters face and the causes behind many serious boating accidents. To learn more about how our North Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers can help, call for a free case evaluation today.
What Is My North Myrtle Beach Boating Accident Case Worth?
The value of your boating accident claim depends on the unique facts of your case, such as:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- How much you’ve spent on medical care, rehabilitation, etc.
- Any expected future costs that you’ll incur due to a lasting injury
- Whether you’ll ever make a full physical recovery
- The length of your recovery
- How your earnings are impacted during recovery
- Whether your earning capacity remains damaged after recovering to the extent possible
- Whether you shared blame
- How your quality of life has suffered
- The strength of the evidence
The details matter when determining how much you deserve. Expect the insurance company to focus on details that may decrease your case value and downplay the details that would increase its value.
Experienced lawyers know how to present the evidence in a way that forces the insurance company to take you seriously. Even if an insurance offer seems generous, it’s always a good idea to have an attorney review the facts before taking the deal. Otherwise, you risk walking away with far less than you deserve.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Boating Accident Victims in North Myrtle Beach?
The two basic types of compensatory damages in South Carolina are economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses associated with an accident and injury.
While they can vary from case to case, examples include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Nursing care
- In-home assistance
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages represent the more intangible suffering you have endured due to the accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
In reality, your personal suffering is very “tangible” to you, but you won’t have concrete evidence to prove the value of these losses.
We’ve seen cases like yours before, so we can use our experience and resources to draw parallels between your experience and past results. We also have relationships with expert witnesses who can testify about tough-to-value losses.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle a Boating Accident Case in South Carolina?
Our team at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers works entirely on contingency. Our attorneys’ fees depend on the outcome of your case. Rather than paying upfront, you’ll pay us a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
How Do South Carolina’s Shared Fault Laws Work and Can They Impact the Value of My Boating Accident Claim?
You lose your right to compensation if your share of fault exceeds 50%.
Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence laws, liability will be divided between anyone who shares blame for an accident. Even injured parties can be partly responsible. If your share of fault is less than or equal to 50%, your damages are reduced proportionately. So, if you were 30% liable, your damages are reduced by 30%.
Once your share of fault reaches 51%, you’re at least as responsible as the other party and cannot recover damages.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in South Carolina?
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 156 boating accidents were reported across the state of South Carolina in 2023. Twenty-four people were killed in those accidents on the water.
Unfortunately, Horry County made the list of the five deadliest counties in South Carolina for boaters.
We Handle All Types of Boating Accident Cases in North Myrtle Beach
Our attorneys in North Myrtle Beach handle all types of recreational boating accident cases, including accidents involving:
- Open motorboats
- Cabin motorboats
- Pontoon boats
- Sailboats
- Fishing boats
- Rental boats
- Airboats
- Jet skis
- Kayaks and canoes
If you were injured in an accident on the water, don’t hesitate to reach out to our law firm for legal guidance today.
Our Boating Accident Lawyers in North Myrtle Beach Handle All Types of Personal Injury Claims
Some examples of the boating accident injury cases we handle include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Dental injuries
- Facial injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Hypothermia
- Organ damage
- Brain damage caused by near-drowning or oxygen deprivation
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Boating accidents can cause severe trauma that can impact every aspect of your life. Our North Myrtle Beach boating accident attorneys understand the complex medical issues you may be facing. We also know how to hold the responsible parties accountable.
To learn more about the benefits of legal representation, call our law firm in North Myrtle Beach and arrange a free case review.
What Are Some Common Causes of Boating Accidents in North Myrtle Beach?
Some common causes of boating accidents in North Myrtle Beach include:
- Distracted boat operators
- Failing to keep a proper lookout
- Excessive speeds
- Alcohol use or drunk driving
- Careless or reckless operators
- Violations of navigational rules
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Hull failures
- Standing or sitting on the gunwale, bow, or transom
- Lack of proper lights
- Sharp turns
- Failure to maintain the vessel in a safe condition
- Defective boat safety equipment
- Mechanical failures
- Fuel ignition
- Hazardous waters and poor weather conditions
In the end, boating accidents occur in many different ways, regardless of the root cause.
We’re Prepared to Help Regardless of How Your Injuries Occurred
Our team at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers handles cases involving:
- Slip and fall accidents aboard the boat
- Falls overboard
- Sudden fires or fuel explosions
- Collisions with other vessels
- Collisions with stationary objects
- Running aground
- Accidents where the victim is struck by the prop
- Flooding or swamping
- Capsizing
If you were injured on the water, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice. We have the resources to help you identify the root cause of the accident.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win Compensation for Boating Accident Injuries in South Carolina?
You’ll most likely have to prove negligence to recover compensation for boating accident injuries.
To win a negligence-based personal injury case, you must prove:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty through some careless act or omission
- The breach was what caused the accident
- You were injured or suffered damages
Different types of evidence can be used to prove your case. Reports prepared by the Department of Natural Resources or the Coast Guard can be extremely useful. Your medical records, witness statements, and evidence from the boat itself can all be used.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident in South Carolina?
Personal injury victims in South Carolina typically have three years from the date of an accident to sue for damages. After the three-year deadline passes, you may lose your right to compensation.
Exceptions are few and far between. When in doubt about your legal rights, call a lawyer sooner rather than later.
Contact an Experienced North Myrtle Beach Boating Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a family member were injured in a boating accident, call Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers for legal help today. Our North Myrtle Beach boating accident lawyers are always here to explore your legal options.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in North Myrtle Beach, SC
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers North Myrtle Beach
1016 2nd Ave N, Suite F, 2nd Floor, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, United States
(843) 390-9111
(843) 983-2670