Sanibel Island, FL Boat Accident Lawyer
Not only are boat accidents chaotic and intense in the moment, but they typically leave victims with terrible injuries. Determining liability for boat accidents is not always cut and dry, so reach out for help identifying who is at fault. Once we do, we can hold them accountable in a lawsuit, which may yield considerable compensation.
Anytime you suffer injuries due to negligence, get medical attention. Common boat accident injuries include broken bones, head injuries, and drowning injuries, all of which are serious, some of which are fatal. Injuries typically result in medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs, as well as non-economic damages. We can calculate how much you deserve, so you only accept a fair settlement after a boat accident in Sanibel Island.
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind at (305) 204-5369 for a free and confidential case analysis from our boat accident lawyers.
Who is Liable for Boat Accidents in Sanibel Island, FL?
Multiple parties might be at fault for boat accidents off of Sanibel Island, so let us identify everyone who may share the blame for your injuries.
Dinner and sunset cruises, fishing, and other water-based activities are very common in Florida, and tourists may book these excursions while on vacation. If any of the staff or crew is negligent and injures you, the boat owner may be liable.
Recreational boat operators may be liable for collisions with other vessels, personal watercraft, or even swimmers in the water. Operating vessels under the influence of alcohol is illegal, reckless, and a major cause of boat accidents in Sanibel Island.
Slipping and falling overboard because of slick decks or being overserved alcohol may also be the boat owner’s fault, so reach out to see if someone else is liable for your injuries today.
What Should I Do After a Boat Accident in Florida?
Whether you are hurt on a recreational boat or a commercial vessel in Florida, get medical attention as soon as possible. Lacerations might get infected, fractures might worsen, and internal injuries might go undetected if you delay medical treatment.
Once you get the care you need, call our boat accident lawyers to initiate your case. We can review any photos or other evidence you may have and collect more through our own investigation. We can schedule interviews with eyewitnesses and record their statements, preserving important evidence for your future lawsuit.
You should also report the accident to the appropriate authorities, which is required by Fla. Stat. § 327.30 for collision, injury, death, disappearance, or $2,000 or more in property damage. On top of reporting to the police, you must also inform the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Reporting documents the accident and the parties involved, which benefits your case.
What Are Common Boat Accident Injuries?
Suffering any injury during a boating accident can be traumatic and distressing, not to mention physically painful. Whatever your injuries, you may be eligible for compensation through a lawsuit, so contact our lawyers to determine if you have a claim right away.
Fractures
Fractures are especially common from slip and falls on slick boat decks. Operators making reckless maneuvers might cause passengers to lose their balance and fall, resulting in severe fractures.
You may need surgery, casts, or at the very least, rest to fully recover from a fracture, generating damages that our attorneys can help you recover.
Head injuries
Falls onto decks or off boats and into the water often cause head injuries. Concussions or traumatic brain injuries both require medical attention. You should get assessed any time you hit your head, especially if you lose consciousness under the water.
Drowning Injuries
Drowning injuries have a high fatality rate. Boat passengers might drown after falling overboard, or swimmers in the water might drown after losing consciousness when negligent boat operators strike them.
Brain damage from non-fatal drown injuries is generally permanent, forever altering a victim’s quality of life and stopping them from ever earning a meaningful wage.
What Damages Can My Sanibel Island, FL Boat Accident Lawyer Recover?
Boat accident lawsuits many yield economic and non-economic damages in Florida, neither of which are capped in boating accident claims.
Economic Damages
We may recover all the economic damages you suffer from a boat accident in Sanibel Island. You may be most concerned with getting medical expenses covered, which is understandable. To make this happen, please provide us with all bills from the treatments you receive.
Also, report your lost wages to us. Do not rush your return to work after a boat accident, and let us calculate your missed income due to another boater’s negligence.
Suppose your boat was damaged in a collision or you suffer any other out-of-pocket expenses. Tell us about those damages, and we may also recover them during your boat accident lawsuit.
Non-Economic Damages
Our attorneys may also recover non-economic damages for you. You deserve non-economic damages if you experience pain and suffering due to negligence, which most injuries cause. You may document your pain and suffering with mental health experts, who can testify during a trial. Your testimony is also strong proof of your non-economic damages, as you have the deepest knowledge of your pain and suffering.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Boating Injury Lawsuits in Florida?
If you get hurt in a boating accident in Sanibel Island, you only have a set period during which you can sue. Miss the statute of limitations, and you cannot get any compensation for your injuries, even if someone else was negligent.
Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years. Two years is not much time to investigate accidents, get evidence, write complaints, and file lawsuits, so prioritize calling our lawyers after you are injured due to negligence.
For Help with Your Case, Call Our Sanibel Island, FL Lawyers
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind’s boat accident lawyers at (305) 204-5369 to discuss your case for free.
