Recreational Injuries
You have legal rights. We'll help you get compensation for your injury
Participants or guests engaged in recreational activities such as swimming, hiking or youth sports have a right to assume that the person overseeing the activity has taken reasonable precautions against foreseeable risks. For instance, safety precautions for safe entry and exit must be established, particularly in events that involve groups of people sharing a space together.
When property owners and event managers fail to take those precautions, serious injuries can occur. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we've handled personal injury cases involving all of the following:
- All-Terrain Vehicle Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Hunting Accidents
- Skiing Accidents
- Snowmobile Accidents
- Swimming Injuries
- Water Ski, Watercraft and Tubing Accidents
- Drowning Death
Collecting compensation after a recreational injury can be difficult. Often, there is significant red tape due to shared liability between property owners and event managers. Insurance companies may try to argue that your injury was due to a pre-existing condition or that it was your fault, rather than the result of another person's negligence.
You don't have to accept those answers. Get an experienced attorney who knows how to win cases in New York: with hard-hitting negotiation and always one step ahead of the opposition. Contact us today for a free consultation. Call (800) 477-9044.
Lawsuits have been filed over deficient safety prevention measures in certain makes and models of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). ATV injuries can occur when two vehicles collide on a track or course, or they can result from a single vehicle that loses control and crashes. Like passengers on a motorcycle or watercraft, ATV passengers should not conduct themselves in a way that distracts the driver or otherwise causes unsafe operation.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the ATV, a premises liability claim against the owner or caretaker of the course, or a personal injury claim against another driver or passenger. Our legal team can thoroughly investigate your ATV accident and find the best option for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Recreational boating accidents take many forms. Alcohol is often involved, as a boat operator with impaired judgment and motor skills may cause a collision, capsize, or leave dangerous equipment unsecured. Fall-down injuries are common when boating as people stand on slick, constantly moving surfaces. Recreational boating accidents sometimes involve water skiing, tubing and other pastimes that are popular among children, making the need for adequate safety precautions even greater.
If you've been injured on a boat, consult with our attorney to see if you have a claim against a manufacturer, another boater or even a passenger. We can help you get the compensation you need to move forward after the injury.
Hunters have a responsibility to conduct themselves safely and avoid putting themselves and others at risk. Many hunting accidents may involve inappropriate handling of hunting equipment: a gun may discharge and injure a bystander, or bow hunting bolts may be left unsupervised and cause accidental injury. Sadly, some hunters consume alcohol in excess, which increases the likelihood of an injury just as drunk driving makes the highways more dangerous.
Careless behavior while hunting or failure to obey rules and regulations can make a hunter liable for a hunting accident. You can count on our legal team to get all of the facts on your case and hold the negligent hunter accountable.
Any time skiers take to the slopes, they assume a fair amount of risk given the potential hazards of the activity. However, they have a right to expect the owners and managers of the mountain to take appropriate precautions as well. Examples of skiing negligence include:
- Trail markers not present;
- Trail condition information not provided;
- Maintenance equipment left in the path of skiers;
- Part of the lift equipment becomes detached and drops onto a skier below.
Skiing accidents often cause serious injuries such as broken bones, spinal cord and brain injuries. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we've helped many ski injury victims recover the damages they need to keep moving forward after an accident.
Like motorcycles and all-terrain vehicle, snowmobiles can be hazardous to operators, passengers and bystanders. The remote locations of some snowmobile paths can make the outcome of an injury especially severe. Medical treatment may not be easy to reach in a timely manner.
While a rider or passenger in a snowmobile always assumes some risk, an equipment defect in the snowmobile itself may lead to an injury - and thus a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Injuries can also result from the negligence of drunk, distracted or reckless operators, or from improper maintenance or signage on snowmobile paths. If you've been hurt in a snowmobile accident, we'll fight to hold the responsible party accountable.
Property owners with swimming pools are held to a high standard of responsibility. Pool owners must have fencing and gating in place and must ensure no dangerous objects are in, around, or overhanging the pool. Appropriate supervision of swimmers, especially children, is also the owner's responsibility. In designated swimming areas in state parks or other natural settings, injuries may result from dangerous objects beneath the water's surface.
While swimming is a risky activity, you have a right to expect the person responsible for the swimming area to take appropriate precautions to reduce that risk. When property owners fail in that responsibility, we'll fight to bring you justice.
Water Ski, Watercraft and Tubing Accidents
Watersports are a great way to enjoy beautiful summer days, but it's always important to take basic safety precautions. An operator must make sure that a water skier has the proper experience and safety equipment, and is capable of making responsible decisions on the water. The operator of personal watercraft has significant responsibility in making sure riders and bystanders are safe. Passengers, too, have to act with appropriate care to prevent accidental injury.
You or a loved one may have been hurt due to negligence on the part of a boat operator, distracting behavior from a passenger or an equipment defect. At the Law Offices of James Morris, we have the experience and hard-hitting approach needed to represent victims of watersports accidents and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Owners of property with access to swimming or boating areas have an obligation to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of their guests. Any boat owner who brings passengers aboard is responsible for providing adequate safety equipment to prevent falls overboard and to provide appropriate personal floatation devices. Failure to supervise those in and around the water, especially children, can result in a drowning death.
If you've lost a loved one in a drowning accident, we can help you get justice. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances of the drowning and help you file a wrongful death claim. We'll hold irresponsible boaters and property owners accountable for your loss and get you the compensation you deserve.