Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Florida Boating Accident
Boating is a popular pastime enjoyed by millions of Americans, none more so than in the state of Florida, where boating is a year-round recreational activity. Boasting nearly 1,200 miles of coastline, and hundreds of lakes and rivers, Florida is known as the “boating capital of the world,” with plenty of fresh and saltwater waterways to be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Sadly, not everyone practices proper boating safety out on the water, and when boating accidents occur, the consequences can be devastating for victims and their loved ones. If you have suffered serious injuries in a Florida boating accident, our personal injury attorneys at Robert Brown Law can help you hold the negligent person or party accountable for your injuries and will work to recover the compensation you are entitled to. Contact our firm today to speak to an experienced boating accident attorney about your legal options.
Common Causes of Florida Boat Accidents
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced earlier this year that Florida continues to lead the country in the number of registered recreational vessels, surpassing the one million mark. With a record number of boats out on the water in Florida these days, boating safety has never been more important. A fun day out on the water can quickly turn tragic when someone fails to act in a reasonably safe manner and their actions cause an avoidable boating accident. The following are some common causes of Florida boating accidents that could have been prevented:
- Intoxicated operator
- Negligent maintenance
- Distracted boating
- Inclement weather
- Defective boat parts
- Reckless boating
- Improper lookout
- Excessive speed
- Machinery failure
- Hazardous waters
- Inexperienced or poorly trained operator
In Florida, there were 863 boating accidents in 2020 alone, accounting for 534 injuries and 79 fatalities, including five missing persons.
Boating Accidents and Drowning Risk
While some boating accidents are simply accidents, meaning they happen because of unavoidable circumstances, many others occur because of someone else’s actions or lack of action. What sets boating accidents apart from other types of injury-causing accidents is the risk of drowning. When a collision or any other kind of accident occurs on a body of water, the potential for a drowning to occur can be very high. In fact, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that of the 613 boating-related deaths that occurred in 2019, 79% were drowning-related. Victims of boating accidents and surviving family members may have grounds to sue the boat operator or any other allegedly negligent person or party, if that person or party owed them a duty of care and breached that duty by acting in a reckless or negligent manner, resulting in their injuries.
You Can Trust Robert Brown Law with Your Boating Accident Claim
Boating accidents happen more often than you might think. In Florida, there were 863 boating accidents in 2020 alone, accounting for 534 injuries and 79 fatalities, including five missing persons. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a Florida boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, whether that may be the person operating the boat you were on, another boater, the boat manufacturer, or any other allegedly negligent person or party, do not hesitate to seek qualified legal advice. Our personal injury attorneys at Robert Brown Law have years of experience protecting the rights of boating accident victims in Miami and throughout Florida, and we can help you and your family fight for the compensation you deserve following a boat accident. Call us today to find out how we can assist you with your claim.
