Boca Raton Boat Accident Lawyer
Recreational boating is synonymous with Florida. Every day there are thousands of people using recreational watercraft off the Sunshine State’s coastlines or inside one of its many lakes and rivers. But just like with a car, unsafe operation of a watercraft can lead to a serious accident. If you are the victim of such negligence, the Boca Raton boating accident lawyers at Steinberg Law are here to help.
Liability for Florida Boating Accidents
Boating may offer a greater degree of freedom than operating a motor vehicle on land. But there are still strict operational and safety rules that all boaters must follow in Palm Beach County. A boat operator is negligent–and therefore liable for personal injury to others–if they fail to obey the “rules of the water.” Some common examples of negligence in this area are:
- excessive speeding;
- failing to follow navigation rules;
- operating a boat during bad weather conditions;
- distracted boating, i.e., texting or using a phone while operating a boat;
- overloading the vessel; and
- failing to maintain adequate safety equipment, including life jackets, distress signals, and fire extinguishers.
When a boat operator engages in any of these negligent acts, and someone else is injured as a result, those victims have the right to seek financial compensation for the losses. This includes the victim’s economic damages–their medical bills, lost income, and other out-of-pocket expenses–as well as their pain and suffering and other “non-economic damages,” which are difficult to quantify yet clearly exist.
Additionally, Florida law imposes strict liability on boat owners for certain boating accidents even when they were not directly involved. For example, if a boat owner loans their vessel to a friend, and that friend proceeds to operate the boat drunk and ram the vessel into another boat, the victims on that other boat can sue the owner under strict liability and collect damages from them. The fact that the boat owner was not physically present when the boating accident occurred is legally irrelevant.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
If you are ever involved in a boating accident in Palm Beach County, your first priority should always be to call for help. Even if you do not think you were seriously injured, it is always advisable to seek medical attention, as many injuries are not immediately apparent. You must also report the accident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission or local law enforcement if anyone was seriously injured or killed, or there appears to be property damage in excess of $2,000.
Finally, you should not hesitate to speak with a qualified Boca Raton boating accident attorney. Keep in mind, Florida’s “no-fault” insurance policies do not apply to boating accidents. So if you sustained damages in a boating accident, you will need competent legal advice to assist you in seeking compensation from the negligent boat operator, boat owner, and other parties who may be liable. If you need to speak with an attorney right away, contact Steinberg Law in Boca Raton to schedule an initial consultation.
