Can Boat Rental Companies Be Held Liable for Injuries on Texas Waters? | Free Case Review

Texas offers many popular spots for water recreation. Whether you’re pontooning with your family on Lake Conroe, hosting a party on a Lake Travis barge, fishing in Lewisville Lake, or jet skiing off the Gulf Coast, a rental company may have made the experience possible. And if that company failed to provide safe services, an attorney can hold the group accountable.

Boating accidents feature unique dangers associated with especially catastrophic injuries. Drowning risks, high-speed collisions, and the influence of alcohol are all familiar factors for the Texas boat accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw. To ensure your case gets the full attention it deserves, contact us to book your free consultation.

You can also read this article to learn more about building a claim against a rental company, including:

• Key legal theories to form your argument
• Reasons for rental company liability
• Protecting your case from common defense arguments
  

Most boating injury cases are based on the legal theory of negligence, which has four main pillars:

1. Duty of care owed by the rental company to you
2. Breach of this expectation by action or inaction
3. Causation of your injury due to this breach
4. Damages, or legally defined losses

Your lawyer knows your rights under state law as well as federal maritime law (if the waters are considered “navigable”). Apart from negligence, other doctrines—like product liability for design defects or premises liability for unsafe property—could apply. To find out the best fit for your situation, contact us online.

After a man was killed by a jet ski while boating in 2023, his surviving spouse sued Lakeway Marina on Lake Travis, basing the case on a lack of safety education. Laws like the Texas Water Safety Act establish guidelines that prevent boat rental injury, including providing clear instruction. Rental companies might also be responsible if they neglect the following standards:

• Inspecting and maintaining the vessel
• Providing well-maintained, up-to-date safety gear
• Renting only to qualified individuals
• Adequately vetting captains, crew, and other staff before hiring

Your attorney will also investigate parties other than the rental company that played a role in your accident. For instance, Jill Stanley and Stanley Wright sued the boat’s manufacturer along with the rental company DFW Boats for their boating injury. After your Texas boating accident, you might also sue the manufacturer, operator, and/or owner in addition to or instead of the company that you rented your vessel from.

Rental companies often have resources for building justifications before you can even get your bearings. Luckily, our law firm’s client reviews show how we anticipate every possible defense argument, including:

• Countering waivers under the Limitation of Liability Act, which can cap financial liability for vessel owners
• Challenging “assumption of risk” claims by showing that your injury was caused by more than the normal amount of risk
• Minimizing your percentage of fault for the boat rental accident through documentation of the full context
• Preventing deflection away from the rental company by acquiring evidence like maintenance records, inspection logs, and witness testimony

Best of all, access to Carabin Shaw’s attorneys and their familiarity with these defenses means you don't have to take on any additional financial risk. In other words, you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Rental companies owe you basic care. At Carabin Shaw, our top attorneys make it easy to ground your case in the law so that those who harmed you don’t float on carelessly. Our toll-free number, 1-800-862-1260, is available 24/7 and connects you with staff who speak both English and Spanish. We’re here to support you at any time!

For more information:

• Nexstar Media Inc
• Google Scholar
• Louisiana Law Review