Boating Accidents
Stuart Boating Accident Lawyer – The Law Office of Frank DiGiacomo
Boating is part of life on the Treasure Coast. From the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon to the St. Lucie Inlet and the open Atlantic, Martin County’s waterways draw thousands of boaters, anglers and visitors every year. But busy water, changing weather and careless operators can turn a day on the water into a serious accident in seconds. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a boating or watercraft accident, the Law Office of Frank DiGiacomo is here to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
Most boating accidents are preventable. They are usually caused by someone failing to operate a vessel safely, including:
- Operator inattention or inexperience: failing to keep a proper lookout, or operating a boat without the training to handle it safely.
- Excessive speed: traveling too fast for conditions, in crowded areas, or in idle-speed and no-wake zones.
- Boating under the influence: alcohol and drugs impair judgment, balance and reaction time on the water just as they do on the road.
- Reckless operation: wake jumping, cutting across the bow of other vessels, or ignoring navigation rules.
- Equipment failure: defective engines, steering systems, fuel systems or safety equipment.
- Missing safety equipment: too few life jackets, or missing lights and fire extinguishers.
- Weather and water conditions: heading out despite storm warnings, or failing to account for inlets, currents and shallow water.
Boating and Watercraft Accidents We Handle
We represent people injured in all types of incidents on the water, including:
- Collisions between boats, or between a boat and a dock, channel marker or other fixed object
- Personal watercraft (jet ski) accidents
- Passengers thrown overboard or injured by sudden turns, waves or wakes
- Propeller injuries to swimmers, divers and others in the water
- Accidents involving rental boats, fishing charters and tour boats
- Fires, explosions and carbon monoxide exposure
- Waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing accidents
Injuries Caused by Boating Accidents
Most boats have no seat belts or airbags, and accidents often happen at speed, so injuries can be severe. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, propeller lacerations and amputations, burns and near-drowning. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment and can keep you out of work for months or longer.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
More than one party may be responsible for a boating accident. Depending on the facts, liability may fall on the boat operator, the boat owner, a rental company or charter operator, a marina, or the manufacturer of defective equipment. Florida requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 to complete an approved boating safety course before operating a vessel of 10 horsepower or more, and operating a vessel while impaired is a crime. A violation of these safety rules can be important evidence in your case. Some accidents on navigable waters may also involve federal maritime law, which has its own rules and deadlines.
What to Do After a Boating Accident
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries do not show symptoms immediately.
- Report the accident. Florida law requires boating accidents involving death, a missing person, injury needing more than first aid, or significant property damage to be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or local law enforcement.
- Collect information from the other operators, owners, passengers and witnesses, including names, phone numbers and vessel registration numbers.
- Take photos of the vessels, the scene and your injuries.
- Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as possible so evidence can be preserved.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills and future medical care, lost wages and lost earning ability, pain and suffering, and property damage. If you lost a loved one in a boating accident, your family may have a wrongful death claim.
Don’t Wait – Deadlines Apply
In Florida, most negligence claims must be filed within two years of the accident, and claims governed by maritime law may have different deadlines. Florida also follows a modified comparative negligence rule: your recovery can be reduced by your share of fault, and barred entirely if you are found more than 50% at fault. An experienced attorney can investigate quickly, preserve evidence and protect your claim.
Talk to a Stuart Boating Accident Lawyer Today
Frank DiGiacomo has represented injured people across the Treasure Coast for over 30 years. Our lawyers will perform an independent investigation into your accident to pursue the maximum compensation allowed by Florida law. You should never have to pay for someone else’s mistakes out of pocket. Call The Law Office of Frank DiGiacomo at (772) 287-0609 for a free consultation.
