Recreational Accidents

Nationally Known Accident Attorneys

Monsees & Mayer, P.C. is known by attorneys, clients, and others for cases we have handled involving recreational and sporting accidents. Most noteworthy, cases involving firearms, tree stands and water sports. Our personal injury attorneys have a national reputation in this field. We have obtained the largest verdicts in the nation’s history against firearm and water ski manufacturers.

Recreational activities carry some degree of risk, but it is the duty of the sporting goods manufacturer, the event organizer, or the facility owner to minimize or warn about foreseeable and unreasonable dangers. Therefore, manufacturers are responsible for producing products without defects. Event organizers must provide attendees with a safe environment and have a safety plan in place for hazards or accidents that may arise. Furthermore, facility owners are responsible for inspecting and maintaining their property and to warn visitors about or eliminate unreasonable risks, such as slick floors and loose or nonexistent handrails.

Monsees & Mayer, P.C. is the law firm to contact if you have been injured in a recreational accident. Our attorneys have successfully pursued lawsuits against manufacturers of guns, helmets, boats, playground equipment and ATV’s, in addition to, operators of water slides, snow ski areas and marinas. We have handled over 100 shooting cases involving defective rifles, shotguns, pistols, handguns and ammunition. Our attorneys have pursued cases against negligent hunters, as well as, sellers, owners, gunsmiths and shooters. While successfully handling water skiing cases, we can and have handled snow tubing, skiing and boarding cases in Missouri, Kansas and elsewhere. Furthermore, Tim Monsees is a certified scuba diver with expertise in a host of scuba diving related injuries and deaths.

Boating Accidents

Boating accidents are something we hear about during the summer months. The lakes and rivers of Missouri and Kansas provide an abundant array of recreational activities for thousands of water sport enthusiasts each year. Boaters and swimmers alike, head to the water when the weather heats up. Thankfully, most days out on the water will end with nothing more serious than a touch of sunburn. Unfortunately, sometimes the fun results in severe injuries or even fatalities due to careless or negligent drivers.

Many boating accidents are preventable. In fact, the majority of serious injuries related to boating and water sports are related to alcohol and drug use by the individuals operating the watercraft. The victims, and their families, injured because of this negligence have the right to sue for damages.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, wrongful death, paralysis or other damages. Our attorneys concentrate on pursuing full and fair compensation for clients who have been hurt through the negligence of others.

The Risks

Boats are motor vehicles without brakes. Unlike a car, boaters are not required to obtain a driver’s license, only a boater safety certification card (and only for those born after Jan 1, 1984). Boat owners have a duty to follow boating safety rules and act responsibly while operating watercraft. Thereupon protecting their passengers and others around them in the water.

Drowning is a risk when out on the water in a boat. Therefore, safety officials recommend that everyone in a boat wear a properly secured U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times.

Unfortunately, even proper life jacket use can’t protect against all risks and hazards inherent in boating. Speeding and reckless driving, as well as drinking and driving, can lead to boat collisions, beaching the boat suddenly, running over water skiers/swimmers/jet skis or striking fixed objects like docks and piers.  Negligence such as this can result in victims drowning, receiving concussions, head and brain injuries, back & neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, lacerations, broken bones, paraplegia or quadriplegia and even death.

Jet Skis & Other Personal Watercraft

Injuries suffered from a jet ski or personal watercraft are generally more severe. Riders are more exposed, just like on a motorcycle, and more prone to injury. Jet skis and personal watercraft are very popular with vacationers and are frequently rented from area rental companies. Unfortunately, many accidents occur every year from these rental riders as they generally have little to no experience operating the machine.

Our Experience Includes:

• Accidents on Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, Stockton Lake, Pomme de Terre, Bull Shoals, Taneycomo, Lake Perry, Clinton Lake, Hillsdale Lake & Pomona Lake
• Motor boat collisions
• Jet ski accidents
• Cases involving persons who were boating while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
• Canoeing and kayaking accidents
• Accidents related to drowning
• Fishing and hunting accidents
• Defective boats, fuel delivery systems, steering mechanisms and throttles
• Negligent boat operation
• Reckless boat operation
• Prop injuries
• Cases involving defective boating products such as life preservers and other equipment