Boat accidents in Tampa Bay and other waters in the Tampa, Florida area can cause serious injury and death to victims. Hundreds are killed each year in boating accidents in Florida, and the Tampa area also sees many other non-fatal boating accidents that cause serious or even permanent injuries. If you or a loved one was injured in one of these accidents, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today.
Our Tampa, FL boat accident lawyers represent victims and their families and fight to get them the compensation they need after serious boating injuries. Our maritime injury lawyers have testified before Congress on issues of boating and maritime law, and we have represented hundreds of victims in high-dollar, serious injury cases, fighting to get them compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and medical bills. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our Tampa boating accident lawyers today at (866) 386-1762.
Suing for a Boating Accident in Tampa, FL
If you were involved in a boating accident in navigable waters – which includes most of the waters around Tampa – then you might have the right to sue under maritime law. U.S. maritime law governs ships and boats throughout the country, and our attorneys are experienced in helping victims get compensation through the courts.
In many cases, there might be an insurance policy that covers the boat accident. However, you should always be careful when dealing with insurance companies. These companies’ policies often exclude payment for some types of damages, such as pain and suffering damages. They will also usually cut off damages at a certain percentage of their full value for first-party claims, and they might not pay in full for third-party claims by victims, either.
Instead, you might be able to get higher damages by filing a lawsuit in court. When you take your case to court, you can sue for any damages the at-fault boater caused you. That can include payment for the physical damage to your boat, jet ski, or other vessel. More importantly in the case of injuries, it can also mean claiming full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Types of Boating Accidents in Tampa, FL
There are many ways that boat accidents can happen – and there are many kinds of accidents that can happen aboard a ship instead. Our Florida boat accident attorneys represent victims in all of the following kinds of boating accident cases.
Boat Crashes
Accidents between two or more boats or ships are the most common type of “boating accident” that people might think of. These cases can often be resolved by determining which boat operator was at fault for the crash, and then every passenger and injured crewmember would be able to claim compensation from them or the company they were working for when the crash happened. If the operator was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crash took place, they are likely to be held liable for the drunk boating accident.
Single-Vessel Crashes and Accidents
In some cases, there is only one boat involved in a crash into a dock, pier, rock, or other object. Many of these crashes are caused by pilot or captain error, and the injured passengers aboard the ship can usually sue their pilot or captain for injuries. If a boat sinks or suffers damage without a crash, you can also sue if the captain took the boat into bad weather, ran aground, failed to repair mechanical failures, or did something else dangerous.
Accidents on Ships
Many accidents also happen aboard boats and ships. Slip and falls from dangerous decks, broken railings, and other dangerous conditions on the ship can also be grounds for a lawsuit. Similarly, falls overboard can also lead to lawsuits, especially if the victim drowns or goes missing. In cases where the victim does not survive the accident or was lost at sea, their family can often sue on for wrongful death.
Assault and Sexual Assault on Ships
Lastly, many injuries on boats and ships are caused by intentional acts rather than accidents. Assault and sexual assault are unfortunately common among staff and crew, and these experiences can often result in lawsuits against the individual who attacked you as well as the ship’s operators who failed to provide adequate security aboard the vessel.
Sailor and Crewmember Injuries
Injuries to sailors, barge workers, seamen, and crewmembers can also lead to lawsuits, even if the accident dealt more with your job duties than the fact that you were on a boat when the accident happened. You will have to prove that your employer was at fault for your injuries in order to get compensation from them, or you can sue another at-fault individual or entity.
Damages Available in Boating Accident Lawsuits in Tampa, FL
As mentioned, insurance companies often fail to pay full damages for your injuries, but a lawsuit can cover damages to your boat as well as compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The medical bills covered in a boating accident case can include the increased medical expenses necessary to transport you to shore for treatment as well as the ongoing costs of rehabilitation, physical therapy, counseling, and more. Lost wages can potentially cover past damages you missed during your recovery as well as future lost wages if you cannot go back to work. Pain and suffering damages broadly compensate you for the negative aspects of an injury that do not have a clear record of cost or monetary damage, such as physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
Call Our Tampa, Florida Boating Accident and Maritime Injury Attorneys Today
After a serious boating accident or maritime injury in the Tampa area, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind. Our Tampa boat accident lawyers fight for injury victims and work to get them compensation for serious injuries and accidents. For your free case consultation, call us at (866) 386-1762.
