Boating accidents can involve commercial ships, pleasure boats, or even smaller vessels like jet skis and canoes. If you or a loved one was hit by a boat or involved in some other kind of accident aboard a boat, they could be left with serious injuries that need compensation. After receiving medical treatment and getting the help you need with the physical effects of the injuries, talk to a Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyer for help with the economic and legal effects of the injuries.
Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind’s Ft. Lauderdale boat accident attorneys may be able to take your claim to court to seek compensation for the medical bills and other economic effects of your case. We can also fight for compensation for the physical damage to your boat. For your free case consultation, call us today at (305) 204-5369.
Waterways Where Boating Accidents Occur in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
There are around 165 miles of intracoastal waterways weaving through the Ft. Lauderdale that offer access to various neighborhoods, restaurants, sand bars, and state parks. Furthermore, boaters in the area have easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. Accordingly, the city is a recreational boaters paradise. Countless boat owners and renters take to the water each day. However, the high number of boaters creates a greater opportunity for boating accidents. The following are waterways where boating accidents often occur in Ft. Lauderdale:
New River
The New River is a tidal estuary with numerous tributary canals sprawling throughout urban Broward County. The river connects the intracoastal waterways to the Atlantic Ocean at Port Everglades. Boaters travelling on the New River can enjoy sheltered waters with access to various neighborhoods and restaurants.
Accidents on the New River can happen at any time. Frequently, such accidents caused by drunk or distracted boaters. If you were injured because of a boating accident on the New River, then you should contact our attorneys right away. Our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can help navigate the path to compensation.
Ft. Lauderdale Beach
One of the largest areas of water and greatest boating opportunities in the city is located in the Atlantic Ocean directly off of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. There are multiple ways to access the ocean, such as through Haulover inlet or through the inlet at Port Everglades. However, navigating the inlets can be challenging. Furthermore, once on the ocean, rising waves and sudden storms can create dangerous conditions quickly. Many inexperienced boaters can suffer accidents on the ocean off of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. After such accidents, our experienced Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can provide victims with guidance and support.
Lake Sylvia
Furthermore, many boating accidents occur on Lake Sylvia. Lake Sylvia is a bit of a hidden gem known mostly to locals in the Ft. Lauderdale area. It is an intracoastal lake-like waterway north of the city that is surrounded by a community of waterfront homes. The area is protected from the elements and provides a secure place to anchor while fishing, swimming, or relaxing on the water. Still, many accidents occur on the lake as a result of boaters’ negligence. If you were injured because of a boating accident on Lake Sylvia, then you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Whiskey Creek
Lastly, some boating accidents also occur on Whiskey Creek. This is a sheltered waterway lined with mangroves within Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. The creek offers excellent opportunities for surf fishing, kayaking, and wildlife observation. Accidents often occur on Whiskey Creek because boaters fail to notice swimmers, paddleboarders, and kayakers sharing the waterway. Victims of boating accidents on Whiskey Creek can contact our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers for help building their cases against at-fault parties.
Common Injuries Sustained from Ft. Lauderdale, FL Boating Accidents
Many severe injuries can result from boating accidents. The type of injury you suffered can impact the path to compensation in your case. Fortunately, our experienced Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can help recover payment for any of the following types of injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Many boating accident victims sustain traumatic brain injuries. These injuries typically result from external blows to the head. Those who suffer boating accidents may sustain traumatic brain injuries because of impacts with objects inside of their vessels. However, some victims incur these injuries after being thrown from their boat into a hard object such as a dock or another vessel.
Traumatic brain injuries can produce a wide range of harmful symptoms that inhibit victims’ quality of life. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury because of a boating accident, then our attorneys can help fight for the multitude of economic and non-economic damages available to you.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are also a common type of harm suffered by boating accident victims. Like traumatic brain injuries, these types of injuries often occur when victims are thrown from their vessels during collisions. Victims with spinal cord injuries can suffer immense pain and immobility. In severe cases, victims may suffer complete paralysis. Plaintiffs with spinal cord injuries can reach out to our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers for help building their cases against negligent parties.
Broken Bones
Furthermore, many boating accidents in Ft. Lauderdale lead to broken bones. These injuries can be excruciatingly painful and debilitating. The road to recovery for such injuries can be tiresome. Furthermore, in serious cases, victims with broken bones may require costly surgical treatment. If you suffered broken bones because of a boating accident in Ft. Lauderdale, then you may be able to recover monetary damages. Our attorneys can help evaluate the strength of your potential claim during a free case review.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Lastly, many boating accidents cause soft tissue injuries. These injuries typically occur in the of tears, strains, and sprains to soft tissue anywhere in the body. In addition to causing great physical pain, these injuries can be very immobilizing. Many victims with soft tissue injuries are restricted from returning to their jobs until they recover. Fortunately, plaintiffs with such injuries can recover payment for the lost wages they incurred.
There are several other categories of damages that may stem from soft tissue injuries. Our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can help pursue the full range of compensation available in your case.
Common Types of Boating Accidents in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Boating accidents can occur in many different ways. Sometimes, collisions between vessels could leave crew and passengers with serious injuries, or accidents could occur between a boat and a stationary object like a dock or pier. Other accidents involve problems aboard the vessel rather than actual crashes. Our Ft. Lauderdale boating injury lawyers handle all of the following boat accident cases and more:
Crashes Between Multiple Ships/Boats
Crashes between two or more vessels can leave victims with injuries. Boats do not have brakes, and inexperienced boaters often cause crashes at high speeds because they fail to account for these kinds of issues. That means that a crash between two boats could cause a vessel to suddenly stop, throwing crew and passengers into bulkheads or down to the deck where they could suffer broken bones and blunt-force injuries. They could also be thrown into the water, where the risk of injury goes up drastically.
Crashes into Stationary Objects
Crashing into a stationary boat, pier, dock, or rock could cause your vessel to stop suddenly. Again, this can throw passengers to the deck or cause them serious injuries if they are thrown into a bulkhead. Victims could be entitled to sue the operator of their boat for these injuries and for other accidents involving just one vessel, such as accidents where a ship runs aground.
Canoeing and Kayaking Injuries
If you were riding on a small boat like rowboat, canoe, or kayak, you could be entitled to sue any boater that hits you. Boaters may fail to look out for smaller vessels or general inattention, inexperience, or even intoxication could lead them to crash into you and cause serious injuries. Being directly struck by a boat could cause traumatic injuries.
Slip and Falls Aboard Boats
The conditions aboard a ship are part of the responsibility that the ship owner owes to the crew and passengers. If you slipped and fell on a ferry, party boat, or other vessel because of unreasonable dangers on the deck, you could be able to sue the boat operator for your injuries. Unsafe conditions on a boat are the cause of many slip and falls, which could result in broken bones, back injuries, and head injuries. These falls could also lead to overboard accidents.
Overboard Accidents
Passengers and crew that fall overboard need quick action to prevent further injury, especially in dark, dangerous, or cold waters. If the boat operator failed to take proper action after someone went overboard, they could be responsible for the death or injuries that occur afterward. Talk to a lawyer about these complex cases.
Drunk Boating Accidents
One of the most serious problems that boaters face in the Ft. Lauderdale area is drunk boating. Tourists, Spring Breakers, and even locals could go out fishing or for a day on the water and, after a few beers or seltzers, become unsafe to operate a boat. Accidents that happen because of drunk boaters could be the intoxicated operator’s fault, and victims may be able to sue them for their injuries and vehicle damage.
What Damages Can I Be Awarded in a Boating Injury Lawsuit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL?
There are multiple categories of monetary damages that may be recovered in a Ft. Lauderdale boating injury case. For instance, any of the following forms of compensation may be recovered:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
The type of damages awarded in your case will most likely depend on the severity of your injuries and the overall impact they had on your life. There are several strategies that defendants may employ to limit the amount of damages available in your case. Accordingly, the support of our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can be highly valuable when fighting for the payment you deserve. During your free case assessment, our attorneys can help explain which of the aforementioned damages may be available to you.
Holding Negligent Operators Responsible for Boating Accidents
If you are injured in a boating accident, you could be entitled to sue the responsible parties. In many accidents, the actual pilot of the boat will be the one responsible, but a captain or skipper giving them orders could also share liability. Similarly, if the boat was operated by a boating company, such as a commercial fishing company or a party boat service, that company could be responsible for its employees’ mistakes.
When you sue these parties in court, judges and juries can hold them liable for any “negligence” that caused the accident. Negligence occurs when a person breaches some duty that they owe the victim, and the victim is entitled to sue for any injuries and damages that the breach of duty causes.
In some cases, insurance claims might be enough to get you compensation for boating accidents. In cases that involve property damage alone, a claim against the at-fault boater’s insurance might cover your damages, but this might fall short in cases with injuries. Boaters also might not have insurance in every case, so it is important to talk to a lawyer about your options for compensation after a boating accident in Ft. Lauderdale.
Why Should I Hire a Maritime Lawyer for a Ft. Lauderdale Boating Accident?
If you were injured because of a boating accident caused by another person’s negligence, then you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, the process for recovering payment can be very complex. There are several conditions that must be satisfied when filing a boating accident lawsuit. Furthermore, defendants are typically represented by insurance companies who will attempt to refute plaintiffs’ claims. Our attorneys can provide victims with guidance and support throughout each stage in the legal process. Our team will lean on years of experience when fighting for fair compensation in every case.
Call Our Ft. Lauderdale Boat Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Consultation
If you or a loved one faced injuries in a boating accident in Ft. Lauderdale, the attorneys at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. may be able to help. Our Ft. Lauderdale boat accident lawyers are available to schedule a free legal consultation about your injuries. Call (305) 204-5369 today.
