Boating and water sports are part of the culture in Florida. Many people frequent local lakes and rivers to fish or just enjoy the weather on their boats. Others like to use personal watercraft or water ski, snorkel, or scuba dive from their boats.
Time on the water is enjoyable and relaxing, but it carries risks. If you are one of the hundreds of people injured in boating mishaps every year—or if your family member was killed—contact a Kissimmee boat accident lawyer at The Florida Firm. Our personal injury attorneys are highly regarded by other legal professionals, who refer cases to us for our knowledge, skill, and proven track record of securing fair compensation for injured individuals.
Injuries on the Water Can Be Serious
Injuries in boats may have more serious consequences than the same injury on land. If you are injured while on a boat, medical treatment is not available until you reach land, and the delay could aggravate the injury and make it more difficult to treat. Microorganisms and pollution in the water, as well as dirt and bacteria on a boat, can cause severe infections, complicating or even preventing a full recovery.
Our lawyers at The Florida Firm represent Kissimmee residents who sustain serious injuries in boating crashes. We provide aggressive advocacy for people with:
- Complex fractures
- Severe burns
- Disfiguring facial injuries
- Permanent damage to internal organs
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputations
Our firm also represents the families of people who drowned or suffered other fatal injuries in boating accidents.
When someone else’s conduct caused or contributed to the incident, they may be responsible for compensating your losses. You could claim monetary damages for your:
- Accident-related medical expenses
- Lost time at work
- Incidental costs
The responsible parties must also pay for the impact the accident had on your quality of life, including your physical pain, emotional anguish, temporary or permanent disability, and similar losses.
How Does Negligence Cause Boat Accidents?
Most boating accidents are caused by someone’s negligence. In the legal context, negligence refers to failing to take reasonable steps to protect others from harm. When an accident occurs because of someone’s negligence, the negligent party—which could be a person, company, or unit of government— is responsible for compensating the losses you suffered as a result.
Accidents could occur when boat operators are untrained, inexperienced, distracted, or inebriated. Defective equipment could also cause a boat accident. Hidden obstructions, improperly marked channels, and similar hazards can lead to boating accidents.
Our diligent team of attorneys in Kissimmee could investigate the watercraft crash to determine its cause. They could speak with witnesses, review reports from emergency responders, and assess the damage to the involved vessel(s). When necessary, we could hire marine accident experts to reconstruct the incident, pinpoint the probable cause, and identify the responsible parties.
Holding Negligent Parties Accountable for a Boating Collision
The negligent party is responsible for any harm their negligence caused. In many cases, the negligent party is the boat’s operator. However, depending on the circumstances, others may be partially or fully responsible for the accident.
The owner of the vessel, including boat rental or charter companies, may be liable if they permitted an incompetent person to operate it. When a mechanical issue contributes to the incident, the boat’s manufacturer, the manufacturer of a defective part, and the marine maintenance company responsible for keeping the vessel in good repair may all have liability, depending on the circumstances. In some cases, the state or a local government responsible for maintaining the waterway may be partially liable.
Sometimes, your conduct might have contributed to the accident that injured you. In that case, Florida Statutes § 768.81 allows you to collect damages from other negligent parties as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the incident. Our Kissimmee lawyers could work to obtain the necessary evidence to demonstrate that your conduct was not the primary cause of a boating incident.
Contact a Kissimmee Boat Accident Attorney To Pursue Damages for Your Injuries
When you suffer severe injuries in a boating accident, it is important to have a capable and experienced Kissimmee boat accident lawyer advocating for you. At Colling Gilbert Wright, we have been winning generous verdicts and settlements in favor of injured people like you for decades. Our team has the experience to ensure the responsible parties are held accountable and you receive the compensation you deserve.
We do not accept payment until we have obtained compensation for you, so there is no reason to wait. Contact us to discuss your boat accident case today.