Whether boating on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River, if you or someone you care about has suffered severe injuries in a boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, is here to help. The experienced Chicago boat accident lawyers at our personal injury law firm ensure your rights are protected.
In this Article
Do I Need a Boating License to Operate a Watercraft in Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires “any person born on or after January 1, 1998, operating a personal watercraft powered by a motor of more than 10 HP, is required by law to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card.”
Does This Illinois Law Apply to Jet Skis?
Yes. A stock jet ski, with a 60–310 HP engine (depending on the model), is a watercraft powered by over 10 HP. Therefore, operators must carry a boater education card.
How Do I Get an Illinois Boater Education Card?
Illinois boaters must take an approved course to obtain a boater education card and meet safety requirements.
Get Your Card in Four Steps:
Enroll for a Boat Ed student account, pay for the state-approved course, and visit your student dashboard.
Take the online boating safety course from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources approved provider, Boat-ed.com.
Pass the knowledge test.
Print your temporary boater education card and boat legally!
How Much Does the Illinois Boating Safety Course Cost?
If you suffered boat accident injuries, these are some important steps to follow:
Get to safety. If you are injured, get medical help right away.
Gather information about the other watercraft and its occupants.
Take photos of the damage to both boats.
Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
Report the boating accident to the Illinois DNR if there’s a death, an injury needing more than first aid, or property damage over $2,000.
Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an experienced boating accident attorney.
Contact our Chicago boating accident attorneys to discuss your legal options.
How to Report a Boating Accident in Illinois
The Illinois DNR requires the following report to be submitted for any boating accidents involving serious injuries, death, or more than $2,000 of damage.
Recreational boating incidents increased by 37% (a total of 70 incidents).
Injuries rose by 3% (37 injuries).
Boating accident fatalities doubled to 12.
Most boating accidents occurred on weekends during clear weather with calm waters.
Many boating accidents involved boat operators aged 20–40 with minimal safety training.
Alcohol and/or drug impairment contributed to 2 out of the 12 watercraft accident fatalities.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in Illinois Boating Accident Claims?
Liability in boating accident lawsuits can fall on the boat owner or operator for negligence or unsafe behavior, the rental company for failing to ensure safety or proper training, or the manufacturer if a defect in the boat caused the accident.
Common Injuries to Boat Passengers and Operators
Similar to motor vehicle accident victims, boat passengers and operators suffer neck and head injuries—such as traumatic brain injuries—spinal cord injuries, and broken bones.
What Compensation Can Boating Accident Victims Recover?
As with other types of personal injury accidents, an injured party may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, for Help
If you’ve been injured in a Chicago boating accident, call us. We investigate Chicago boating accident cases, determine liability, and gather evidence to support your claim.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and determine the best course of action. Our experienced attorneys will guide you through the legal process to recover fair compensation on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers offers skilled legal representation.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
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