How to Get Compensated for a Hit and Run Boat Accident in Florida
Hit and run accidents often involve boats rather than cars. In such cases, you may need help from the authorities and an attorney to track down the operator of the other boat if they fled the scene after a crash. Getting compensation may be difficult if we cannot find them, but it might not be impossible.
To get compensation after a hit and run boating accident, you should get immediate medical attention and contact the authorities. While the authorities investigate, we can assess your injuries and damages. We need medical records to help us start building a case for compensation. In Florida, boat owners are not required to have insurance, but many do, and you might be able to get compensation by filing a claim. We might also sue the other boat operator once the authorities identify them.
Start your case with a free evaluation from our Florida boat accident lawyers by calling Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind at (305) 204-5369.
Reporting the Hit and Run Boat Accident to the Authorities
After a boat accident, you should contact the authorities right away. In Florida, there may be several governmental agencies that can help and investigate the accident.
Local Authorities
A great place to begin is by contacting the local authorities. Depending on which body of water the accident occurred in, your case might fall under the jurisdiction of the town or city police department, or possibly the state police. If you are unsure who to call, just dial 911 and report the accident. They should dispatch the appropriate authorities.
Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard can be incredibly helpful in boating accident cases. Not only can they render emergency aid to you and anyone else involved in the accident, but they can also quickly investigate and track down the other boat operator who fled the scene. Often, Coast Guard officials are at the ready with boats or other vessels, and they can quickly come to help.
Getting Immediate Medical Care After a Hit and Run Boat Accident in Florida
After a hit and run boating accident, you should go to the hospital immediately. Not only might you have serious injuries that need treatment, but you also need to have your injuries documented in your medical records.
Our Sarasota, FL boat accident lawyers may need your medical records to fully understand the extent of your damages and to claim compensation. Also, any gaps in your records or delays in treatment could hinder your case in court.
How Long Do I Have to Find the Other Boat Operator in a Florida Hit and Run Boat Accident?
You should call the authorities for help immediately, as you might have a limited time to find the other boat operator and file a case.
Florida Statute of Limitations
According to the statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you have 2 years from the boat accident to file a lawsuit in court. Generally, if a plaintiff does not file their case on time, they are time-barred from doing so and cannot bring the case. However, if the defendant cannot be found or has fled the state, you might be able to buy extra time.
Tolling the Statute of Limitations
In hit and run boating accident cases, we may be able to have the statute of limitations tolled due to the defendant’s absence, the concealment of the defendant within the state, or the use of a false name. The time that the defendant cannot be found should not be computed toward the limitation period.
Exploring Insurance Options After a Hit and Run Boat Accident in Florida
In Florida, boat owners are not required to have insurance to legally operate their boats. As such, it is not unusual to find that the other boater in a boating accident is uninsured.
MedPay
Many boat owners carry MedPay insurance that covers their medical bills after an accident. This may be a good option for a first-party claim, especially if the other boat owner cannot be found, preventing you from filing a claim with their insurance.
Uninsured Boat Owner Insurance
You might also have uninsured or underinsured boater coverage. This kind of coverage applies when the at-fault party does not have insurance to cover your damages or their insurance is insufficient to cover everything. This may be a good option for those in a hit and run accident.
Liability Coverage
It may be possible to file third-party claims against the other person’s liability coverage if we find them. Even if the other person flees the scene, if we can identify them and determine their insurance status, we may file a claim.
FAQs About Hit and Run Boat Accidents in Florida
Can I File an Insurance Claim After a Hit and Run Boat Accident?
While insurance is not required for boats in Florida, many boat owners have it anyway, and you may file an insurance claim after a hit and run accident.
How Do I Find the Other Person in a Hit and Run Boat Accident?
Perhaps the best way to find the other boat operator is to contact the authorities. The local police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) may investigate.
Should I File a Lawsuit to Recover Compensation?
Once the other boat operator is identified, you may file a lawsuit against them. Whether you should sue is entirely up to you, and you should review your case with a lawyer first.
Do I Need Evidence to Get Compensation for a Boat Accident?
Compensation is rarely awarded without evidence to back up your claims. You need evidence of the other boat operator’s negligence and fault, and evidence of your injuries and damages to get adequate compensation.
What Happens if I Cannot Find the Other Boat Operator?
Even if the other boat operator cannot be found, we might still learn their identity. In that case, we might still be able to serve notice to their address, place of business, or with someone who works with or for them as an agent or representative.
Is a Hit and Run Boat Accident a Crime in Florida?
A hit and run is indeed a criminal offense. If and when the authorities find the other boat operator, they may be charged and put on trial.
Discuss Your Case with Our Florida Boat Accident Attorneys
Start your case with a free evaluation from our Pensacola, FL boat accident lawyers by calling Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind at (305) 204-5369.
