In his many years of practice, Jim has represented clients in a variety of vehicle litigation matters. Whether you have been injured in a car, truck or boating accident, Jim can help protect your rights and maximize the compensation you receive. Read below for more details on specific vehicle litigation areas.

Motor Vehicle
Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of personal injury. The impact ranges from the inconvenience of property damage to serious injury and even death. If you have suffered injury due to a car, motorcycle or boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The circumstances surrounding the accident, the nature of the injury suffered, the conduct of the drivers involved and the available automobile insurance will impact whether compensation is available. Jim Jackson has the experience necessary to evaluate the issues of liability and damage, protect your rights and maximize the compensation you receive.

Tractor Trailer
A trucking accident occurs when a large truck (10,000+ lbs.) collides with another vehicle(s) or pedestrians. Approximately 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year in the United States. Of these, around 5,000 result in fatalities. In fact, one out of every eight traffic fatalities is truck related. Most of the deaths and injuries involve the passengers of vehicles, with truck drivers usually avoiding serious injury.

Unlike other traffic accidents, there are unique contributing factors with respect to trucking accidents. The sheer size and weight of the truck, large blind spots and driver fatigue all can cause or contribute to trucking accidents. Additionally, when the truck driver has exceeded federal regulations for standard working hours, the likelihood for a trucking accident increases.

If you or a loved one is involved in a trucking accident, it’s important to record as much information as possible, including the names and contact information – telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. – of witnesses. Trucking accidents usually involve extensive property and personal damages.

Jim Jackson is an expert with the specific laws and insurance regulations governing trucking accident settlements. His experience can help you determine your best legal course of action.

Boats & Watercraft Vehicles
If you have been involved in a boating accident and have sustained injury or loss of personal property, Jim Jackson can help determine whether the accident was a result of operator negligence, or could have been prevented through efforts of your own.

By federal regulations, the operator of any recreational vessel must report a boating accident to the U.S. Coast Guard under any of the following circumstances:

1. A person dies

2. A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid

3. There is damage to the vessel or the other property that totals $2,000 or more

4. There is a complete loss of the vessel

5. A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury

In addition to these minimum boating accident reporting regulations, certain states may have stricter laws that are designed to determine boating accident responsibility and/or prevent future boating accidents.

As of Sept. 30, 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that in 2002, there were 5,705 boating accidents that resulted in 750 fatalities and more than 4,000 injuries. Drowning accounted for 70% of boating accident fatalities in 2002. An astonishing 85% of these drowning victims were not wearing life vests. It is estimated that 440 of these tragic deaths could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been taken.

Inattentive or inexperienced operators, careless or reckless operation, and/or excessive speed are the leading causes of all boating accidents. In addition, approximately 80% of all boating accident fatalities occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instruction, and alcohol was involved in 39% of all fatal boating accidents.

Boat operators are responsible for the safety of their passengers and must take proper precautions to ensure boating accidents do not occur. The statistics above are evidence that serious boating accidents can be prevented if proper safety measures are taken, and if operators have adequate boating experience and education.