Boat Accident Lawyer in Miami, FL
For any boating accident in Miami to be classified as “reportable,” it has to involve someone’s death or disappearance, physical injuries, or substantial damage to property (normally not less than $2,000 worth of property damages). Injuries can be as minor as bruises and bumps that heal over the course of a few days to severe injuries such as spinal cord damage, broken bones, lacerations, and brain injuries.
Our lawyers understand the ins and outs of Florida maritime law. We investigate accidents as soon as they occur and skillfully negotiate and litigate aggressively to get our clients the highest amount of compensation to which they are legally entitled.
Types of Boat Accidents in Miami, Florida
There are no special requirements with regards to boating education in Florida. As a result, many people who operate boats in Florida do not have any specific training with respect to safety or navigation rules. Our skilled Miami boat accident lawyers have extensive experience handling a wide range of boating accident cases and can help you get the right compensation for accidents.
7 Common Types of Boat Accidents in Miami
- Towable device mishaps
- Collisions with submerged objects or vessels
- Capsizing, sinking, or running aground
- Falling overboard or into a vessel
- Being struck by a propeller or a boat
- Fires and explosions
- Carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty systems/boat exhausts
Determining Liability for Boating Accidents in Miami, FL
People who operate boats negligently can be held liable for boat accidents. Negligence refers to the failure to observe normal safety precautions. It can also mean operating a boat in a way different from what a reasonable person would do under similar circumstances. If somebody in your boat caused a boating accident, he or she can be held liable for it. If someone in another boat caused the accident, he or she too may be held accountable. A boat operator can be held responsible for an accident even without having direct contact with another boat. This commonly happens when a boater creates a wake that causes another vessel to sustain damaged or capsize.
Seeking Compensation for a Miami Boat Accident
Should you or a loved one suffer injury or damages from boating, personal watercraft, or yachting accidents due to the negligence of another party, it is recommended that you seek compensation to cover you for the costs of recovery, both financial as well as physical. The same applies in the case of property damages or the death of a loved one. Our Miami boat accident lawyers have extensive experience in boating accident compensation and legal suits. They know how to handle evidence gathering, identifying fault, and the representation of victims of:
- Drunk boating accidents
- Cruise ship injuries
- Charter boats or ferry crashes or injuries
- Private vessel collisions, injuries, or property damage
- Personal watercraft accidents – wave-runners, jet skis, and other small personal watercraft
- Dock/marina accidents
As opposed to car accidents, one challenge faced by boat accident victims is that, although liability insurance is recommended for Miami boats, it is not compulsory to have. This means that if a recreational boat caused your accident, then there is no guarantee that there will be an insurance company responsible for covering your medical expenses. In such cases, your only option will be to seek compensation from the careless and uninsured boat operator, but he/she might not have the funds to cover you for your losses. Our Miami boat accident attorneys will check whether or not a boat rental company or owner had insurance at the time of the accident and whether the company/owner is liable for entrusting an inexperienced person with their vessel.
Calculating Boat Accident Compensation
Under Florida boating law, victims of boating accidents in Miami are eligible for monetary compensation for injuries caused by a careless party. You can get compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical attention
- Emotional trauma
- Lost income
- Loss of consortium
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of financial support formerly offered by the diseased
Choosing the Right Boat Accident Lawyer in Miami, FL
What some lawyers and many Florida residents do not know is that all accidents that occur on public waterways fall under the jurisdiction of the federal admiralty. This means that such cases can, and at times must be, taken to the federal courts of Florida. A separate set of laws applies to injuries sustained from such boat and cruise accidents, and your Miami boat accident lawyer must know the right standards and laws to follow when seeking compensation in court.
For example, you may have been involved in a boating accident that requires you to file a claim using negligence admiralty rules as opposed to regular vehicular or car accident standards. You need a lawyer who is qualified (not to mention licensed) to practice in Miami federal courts and has experience in handling boat accident cases. Not all lawyers have such experience, but our team of boat accident attorneys in Miami, FL does.
Contact Us Today – Consultations are Free
Our legal team is comprised of experts in litigation, state and federal laws, courtroom representation, evidence gathering, and fault identification for a wide variety of boating accidents and different types of claims. We will help you file a claim as per the rules and requirements of federal admiralty laws and will help you with insurance negotiations as well. Schedule a cost-free consultation. We work around the clock and can meet you at the accident scene, your home, at your place of work, or at the hospital. Call us today on 305-928-2909.