What is Considered Negligent Operation of a Boat?
Any watercraft may constitute a “boat” for the purpose of a boating accident lawsuit. This may include motorboats, jet skis, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and many more. When the operator of one of these watercrafts is negligent, serious harm can result. Negligence occurs when a person has a duty of care to protect others from foreseeable harm, breaches that duty, and harms someone as a result. The operator of the boat or the boat’s owner could be held directly liable for a person’s injuries, depending on the specific facts of the case. In some cases, the boat’s operator may be unqualified or inexperienced in operating watercrafts. Proving that the operator of the boat was unqualified or inexperienced is often an effective method of proving negligence and may lead to significant financial compensation.