If you or your family member were injured in a boating accident in Delray Beach, FL, you could be entitled to compensation. The Injury Law Firm, P.A. will make sure you are heard. Proving liability for a boating accident can be difficult without an experienced attorney, so call a Delray Beach boating accident lawyer today at (561) 800-4357.
Boating accidents are common in Delray Beach, Florida. The Injury Law Firm, P.A., has extensive experience in personal injury law. We have helped clients recover compensation in personal injury settlements and jury verdicts. Our team of legal professionals stands up for your rights and fights to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. We ensure our clients have a voice after a tragic accident or personal injury, so contact us today.
How The Injury Law Firm, PA Can Help You After a Boating Accident in Delray Beach
A boating accident can cause catastrophic injuries in Delray Beach, FL, especially when the accident occurs at sea. The water element adds an additional layer of risk for accident victims. Boat passengers risk drowning if there is an accident while they are on the boat.
Personal injury claims for boating accidents are complex. They often involve complicated federal, state, and maritime laws that can be complicated to navigate. You need an attorney with substantial experience handling boating accident claims to represent you.
When you hire our top-rated Delray Beach personal injury lawyer, you can trust we will:
- Thoroughly investigate the cause of the boating accident to identify all responsible parties
- Explain how maritime, federal, and state laws apply to your case
- Gather evidence proving your claim, including working with leading expert witnesses as necessary
- Defend you if you are accused of contributory fault and blame
- Establish how much your claim is worth by analyzing all damages in your case
- Aggressively negotiate settlements for the total value of your damages
- File lawsuits and take your case to trial if that is in your best interest
We understand that you and your family have been through a traumatic experience. Our personal injury team offers support and guidance as you navigate the legal process of filing claims for damages. We offer sound legal advice as we fight to hold the parties responsible for your injuries accountable for wrongdoing.
Call The Injury Law Firm, P.A. to schedule a free case review with an experienced Delray Beach boating accident lawyer. We fight to get you the compensation you need as you continue to recover and heal from boating injuries.
We Handle All Types of Boat Accidents
Our legal team has experience handling all types of boating accidents, including but not limited to accidents involving:
- Collisions with other boats and vessels
- Capsizing
- Flooding
- Slip and fall accidents
- BUI (boating under the influence)
- Running aground
- Collisions with jetties, docks, and other fixed objects
- Falling overboard
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Drowning
- Electrical injuries
- Maritime and dock accidents
If you are involved in a boating accident, you are required to report the accident if someone requires medical treatment beyond first aid or dies. You must also report boating accidents that result in someone disappearing from the boat because of suspected death or injury. A report is required if a boat is destroyed or there is $2,000 or more in property damage.
Boating Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
A boating accident can cause numerous injuries to the occupants of the boat, people in the water, and people on the docks or the shoreline.
Our attorney can help you file claims for injuries including, but not limited to:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Organ damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Severe burns
- Fractured and broken bones
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Catastrophic injuries
- Suffocation
- Drowning
- Electrical injuries
An accident caused by a boat can result in catastrophic injuries and life-altering impairments. All injuries upon boats should be treated seriously.
Prompt medical treatment can avoid worsening injuries and complications. Delays in medical care could make it more difficult to obtain a fair settlement for a boating accident claim.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Delray Beach, FL
Florida has approximately 8,436 miles of coastline. Additionally, the state has thousands of inland waterways and lakes. Sadly, this much water leads to numerous boating accidents. Florida consistently leads the nation in the number of annual boating accidents.
Boating accidents can occur on any body of water. The causes of boating accidents vary, but many of the reasons for accidents involve negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
Common reasons for boating accidents include:
- Speeding and reckless operation of the boat
- Operator inattention (distracted driving)
- Weather conditions
- Congested waterways
- Inexperienced operators
- Overloading a boat
- Lack of caution in an unfamiliar area
- Creating a dangerous wake
- Alcohol and/or drug impairment
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Mechanical failures and defective boat parts
- Unsafe boat operations
- Inadequate maintenance and repairs
- Failure to obey navigational rules and safety regulations
- Intentional acts of violence
If another party caused your boat accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The factors contributing to the accident determine who is responsible for your injuries.
Who Can I Sue for a Delray Beach Boating Accident?
One or more parties could be responsible for damages caused by a boating accident.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The owner and/or operator of the boat
- Disruptive passengers
- Rental boat companies
- Boat maintenance and repair facilities
- Operators and owners of other vessels involved in the accident
- Manufacturers of defective boats and parts
- Employers of negligent boat captains and staff
- Companies inspecting boats for safety
Florida law does not require boaters to purchase liability insurance. Therefore, you may have to sue the parties responsible for your injuries. However, other parties could be liable for damages that might have insurance, such as employers, rental companies, and boat clubs.
At The Injury Law Firm, P.A., our legal team identifies each party who contributed to the cause of the accident. We pursue claims against all parties to maximize the compensation available for your claim.
Damages Available for a Boating Accident Claim in Delray Beach, FL
Victims of boating accidents can recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
The types of damages you could receive for a boating accident case include, but are not limited to:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Impairments and disabilities
- Past and future medical expenses and bills
- Rehabilitative care and therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Personal and/or nursing care
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
The value of your claim depends on many factors, including the parties involved in your case, the severity of your injuries, and whether you could be partially to blame for your injuries.
If you lost a family member in a boating accident, you could be entitled to wrongful death damages. Those damages could include the cost of the funeral, loss of financial support, medical bills from the accident, loss of companionship, and more.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for the Boating Accident?
Florida has adopted a modified comparative fault law as of March 24, 2023. Damages are based on fault. If a party is 100% to blame for the boating accident, they can be held liable for 100% of your damages. However, if you are partially to blame for the accident, the court can reduce your damages by your level of fault. For instance, if the jury decides you were 20% to blame for your boating injuries, the judge reduces your damages by 20 percent.
However, if your case occurred on or after March 24, 2023, there is a 51% bar for damages. If your blame exceeds 50 percent, you cannot receive any money for your claim.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Boating Accidents in Florida?
The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in Florida is two years from the accident date. Florida shortened the statute of limitations from four years to two years as of March 24, 2023.
However, the type of case can impact the deadline to file a lawsuit. The best way to avoid losing your right to file a lawsuit is to seek legal advice as soon as possible after a boating accident. Other factors in your case could also impact the deadline for filing a lawsuit.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Delray Beach Boating Accident Attorney
Our Delray Beach boating accident lawyer at The Injury Law Firm, P.A. can help you pursue a legal claim against the party who caused your injuries. Our legal team diligently pursues claims for the full value of your damages in Delray Beach, FL. Call us today for a free case review.
