Boating Accident
- Thread starter BeachChick420
- Start date
Much of the negativity in these replies is based on a very incomplete first post. If that was the entire story, by all means, the reactions were correct. However, post by post, we got more of the story. We find out, after about 10 posts, that there were injuries involved and a possible drunk driver. If the story had been related accurately at the beginning, this entire thread would read very differently.
But the advice is sound - don't be trying to discuss this case on the internet - just let the insurance company handle it and, if it looks like damages could exceed your coverage, hire an attorney yourself. Don't be at all surprised if the parents attorney, as noted, decides to include you in the list of defendents - especially if the BOC level comes back in allowable limits.
If nothing else, this story should make everyone a little more cautious when someone asks to borrow their vessel.
But the advice is sound - don't be trying to discuss this case on the internet - just let the insurance company handle it and, if it looks like damages could exceed your coverage, hire an attorney yourself. Don't be at all surprised if the parents attorney, as noted, decides to include you in the list of defendents - especially if the BOC level comes back in allowable limits.
If nothing else, this story should make everyone a little more cautious when someone asks to borrow their vessel.
As a person following this post I assumed this must be many days or weeks from start to present.
Quote "She has been told to get a lawyer 17 times already, has she done so? Does not sound like it. Why???
You have told her to get a lawyer, contact insurance company, get police report, etc, and you have questioned why
she has not done all this yet. All good advise, but if I read right this post has a total life of 4 hours and 30 minutes. I have heard people
in California are different (fast), but 4-1/2 hours does not seem like enough time to follow all the recommendations given so far.
I hope she has good insurance and this post is just an effort to be sure all the bases have been covered. If there is
not adequate insurance, I hope a defense strategy is in place. As any one who has spent a 1/2 century or more on this planet can attest to,
sooner or later in most cases the parents will be pulled into a law suit. When that happens the pwc owner will have liability due to the personal injury part of the accident, it just can not go any other way.
I do hope this is just research
John d
been there done that and it hurts
Quote "She has been told to get a lawyer 17 times already, has she done so? Does not sound like it. Why???
You have told her to get a lawyer, contact insurance company, get police report, etc, and you have questioned why
she has not done all this yet. All good advise, but if I read right this post has a total life of 4 hours and 30 minutes. I have heard people
in California are different (fast), but 4-1/2 hours does not seem like enough time to follow all the recommendations given so far.
I hope she has good insurance and this post is just an effort to be sure all the bases have been covered. If there is
not adequate insurance, I hope a defense strategy is in place. As any one who has spent a 1/2 century or more on this planet can attest to,
sooner or later in most cases the parents will be pulled into a law suit. When that happens the pwc owner will have liability due to the personal injury part of the accident, it just can not go any other way.
I do hope this is just research
John d
been there done that and it hurts
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I'd go a bit easy on beachchick. Checking this forum would seem to be a logical first step in finding out what to do. Good luck to her. She did us all a favor reminding us what could happen if we let someone else drive our boats or dinghies/PWCs.
Rule one is of course that insurance applies only for the listed drivers of the boat.
The very best case is that BeachChick's friends are likely to sue her for hefty medical bills thanks to our copay medical system. If the child parent's did not have medical insurance, or, their medical insurance company tries to push all costs onto the PWC owner (highly likely) well, then the sky is the limit on medical cost liability.
I know of a gofast boat owner who let his friend drive the boat, rolled it, and at least one kid was in the hospital on life support for months. The final medical costs were in the millions. Really sad.
Rule one is of course that insurance applies only for the listed drivers of the boat.
The very best case is that BeachChick's friends are likely to sue her for hefty medical bills thanks to our copay medical system. If the child parent's did not have medical insurance, or, their medical insurance company tries to push all costs onto the PWC owner (highly likely) well, then the sky is the limit on medical cost liability.
I know of a gofast boat owner who let his friend drive the boat, rolled it, and at least one kid was in the hospital on life support for months. The final medical costs were in the millions. Really sad.
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"Rule one is of course that insurance applies only for the listed drivers of the boat"
It is my understanding that anyone operating with my permission is covered ... I have never had to list operators for boats, or automobiles.
If I had been involved in an accident the first place I would go for advice would be my insurance agent, the second would be an attorney, and probably the last would be a boating site I had never visited before.
It is my understanding that anyone operating with my permission is covered ... I have never had to list operators for boats, or automobiles.
If I had been involved in an accident the first place I would go for advice would be my insurance agent, the second would be an attorney, and probably the last would be a boating site I had never visited before.
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Insurance protects the owner from losing his/her personal assets, when he/she is sued. If you have enough to cover you, fine, if not, you could lose all of your material possessions.
Umbrella policies are very cheap and provide excellent coverage. If you don't have one, you should seriously think of getting one.
Umbrella policies are very cheap and provide excellent coverage. If you don't have one, you should seriously think of getting one.
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psalzer: My gofast boat insurance demands that only my wife and I are permitted operators except for mechanics. Wouldn't PWCs with their tragic history of accidents be the same?
Classic/exotic car insurance I have had also demands only the owner and listed spouse are permitted drivers (except for mechanics).
Classic/exotic car insurance I have had also demands only the owner and listed spouse are permitted drivers (except for mechanics).
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If you take away nothing else from this thread, let it be READ YOUR INSURANCE POLICY from cover to cover and understand your rights, duties and responsibilities; what you are covered for, and what you must do in the event of a claim.
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My PWC policy says nothing about listing operators as long as they are operating with my permission, same for my anitque Chris Craft, and my other boat. The classic insurance I have on my 1965 MGB says it's only covered while at a show or exhibition, or while being driven, max 5K mi per year. They mean that I cannot take it to the mall and park it, but liability extends to any driver.
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Beachchic420 - If story is as stated, your "friends" whose child has suffered injuries will be advised by their legal cousel to take action legally against "you" the PWC owner. Friends & Greed don't make a good combination. I would advise from this second forward to stop posting ANY more information on this thread and consult with a recommended attorney ASAP. As everything you have posted on the internet can be used against you in a court of law.
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Pete, you have one generous insurance company. Mine would not even let me take my boat to Florida for the winter as per usual this year. Florida is no longer permitted at any time of the year! So, I vacationed over the holidays in Canada instead.
Perhaps the high horsepower levels of my car and boat make the insurance even more restrictive than usual.
Perhaps the high horsepower levels of my car and boat make the insurance even more restrictive than usual.
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Chris:
I do not think it is limited to go fasts, my insurance for my CC requires that I list operators as well. Additionally, having the boat in FL is also prohibited at any time.
I do not think it is limited to go fasts, my insurance for my CC requires that I list operators as well. Additionally, having the boat in FL is also prohibited at any time.
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"Rule one is of course that insurance applies only for the listed drivers of the boat"
maybe for go fast but not for normal boats... and the Hagerty policy i have on the E-type doesn't restrict drivers (except age) or miles (although it can not be used for commuting, etc...)
back to the topic... while there are obvious inacuracies in the various posts, why are some of you jumping to conclusions that it's all made up... why woudl anyone bother doing this ? why assuming the worst first... why not that it could be a fellow boater wondering if anyone else has been in this situation before and that maybe there are rules or law that apply which woudl reduce her liability ? obviously not, this place is called Boater ED... education means there is no such thing as a stupid question.
maybe for go fast but not for normal boats... and the Hagerty policy i have on the E-type doesn't restrict drivers (except age) or miles (although it can not be used for commuting, etc...)
back to the topic... while there are obvious inacuracies in the various posts, why are some of you jumping to conclusions that it's all made up... why woudl anyone bother doing this ? why assuming the worst first... why not that it could be a fellow boater wondering if anyone else has been in this situation before and that maybe there are rules or law that apply which woudl reduce her liability ? obviously not, this place is called Boater ED... education means there is no such thing as a stupid question.
B
blouderback
Guest
Hey, here's an idea: Get a lawyer.