The state of Florida has numerous water access points for recreational boating vessels. You may have your own boat or have been invited onto someone else’s boat on several occasions during these summer months. While this is supposed to be a fun and thrilling experience, you must not put safety guidelines on the back burner. That is, at a moment’s notice, one mistake may lead to a catastrophic accident. With that being said, please continue reading to learn whether you have grounds to sue after a boat accident and how an experienced Miami boat accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA, can help build your case.
What was the probable cause of my boating accident?
The state of Florida has an enforced guide to safe and responsible recreational boating. And so, when a boat operator fails to meet these guidelines, a boating accident usually ensues. Below are more specific examples of what may have caused your personal boat accident:
- A boat operator may have failed to equip their vessel with the correct safety features:
- They failed to supply a sufficient number of U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- They failed to supply a sufficient number of fire extinguishers.
- They failed to load the vessel below the manufacturer’s recommended capacity.
- A boat operator may have maneuvered their vessel recklessly and negligently:
- They may have taken the vessel into a closed-off swimming area.
- They may have initiated waterskiing activities in an unauthorized area.
- They may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating the vessel.
Can I sue after getting hurt in a boat accident?
Our firm handles a considerable number of boat accident claims every year, especially during these summer months. And so, we will be interested to hear your accident story to determine whether you have a case on your hands.
You may have been the innocent passenger on a boat with a negligent boat operator. Or, you may have been a boat operator who was carrying on safely until you collided with another negligent operator’s vessel. Whatever your role was in the accident, the bottom line must be that you did not contribute to the event significantly.
This is because the state of Florida follows a modified comparative negligence law for personal injury claims like yours. Meaning, contributing more than 50 percent of fault toward the accident event may jeopardize your opportunity to pursue legal action in the first place.
Therefore, even if you were just a passenger, you should not have entered the vessel if you were made reasonably aware that it was at the recommended safety capacity. Or, if you are a boat operator, you should not be impaired by alcohol whatsoever, even if your blood-alcohol content level is below the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Nonetheless, if you are ready to get started on your legal case, please retain the services of a skilled Miami auto accident lawyer as soon as you can. We at the Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA, look forward to receiving your outreach.
