Can I Recover Compensation After a Boat Accident in Florida?

If you were injured in a boat accident in the state of Florida, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Read on and give our firm a call today to speak with a dedicated and experienced Hillsborough County boat accident lawyer.

How do boat accidents occur in Florida?

In the majority of cases, boats are safe, however, there are several elements that can result in a boat accident in Florida. Some of the most common causes of boat accidents include the following:

• Boat operator inexperience
• Faulty boat parts (either due to a negligent part designer/manufacturer or due to a boat owner’s failure to adequately maintain his or her boat)
• Boating at excessive speeds
• Boating in poor weather conditions, such as thunderstorms or torrential downpours
• Colliding with fixed objects
• Colliding with other boats
• Failing to have the necessary safety equipment on board (such as life vests)
• Operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Boat operators taking part in any other type of unsafe or negligent conduct that endangers others

Can I recover compensation for my accident?

If you were injured in a boat accident because of another’s negligence and you would like to pursue legal action, it is critical that you obtain as much evidence as possible. You should do this by documenting the incident, including taking pictures/videos of the accident, seeking medical treatment, calling authorities to the scene of the accident, and more. In many circumstances, there is more than one passenger aboard, so it is vital that you have the other passengers’ contact information so they may verify your claim at a later date. You will want to prove that you were injured as a direct result of another party’s negligence in your boat accident. If you can accomplish this, you will most likely recover compensation for two kinds of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and other financial expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your accident. Non-economic damages cover the cost of emotional damages, such as pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life.

How long do I have to file my personal injury claim?

You will want to keep in mind that the state of Florida has a deadline for personal injury claims. This is referred to as the statute of limitations, and for most personal injury claims in Florida it is four years. This means that if you fail to file your boating accident claim within four years from the date of the accident, you risk losing the opportunity to file your claim entirely. Reach out to our firm today to speak with a skilled Riverview personal injury lawyer.

Contact Our Firm

For a skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer you can trust, contact The Frank Santini Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.