Table of Contents
2. Typical Injuries Arising from Boating Accidents
3. Monetary Compensation Due to a Boating Accident
4. Contact an Experienced Attorney Today
A Florida teenager had to be airlifted to an area hospital after he crashed his boat on Lake Anne. The 14-year-old boy was the sole occupant of the 14-foot whaler that crashed ashore west of the Suncoast Expressway around 5.30 in the evening. While the cause of the accident is not immediately known, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who are investigating the accident reported that the boy had suffered serious injuries to both legs. Pasco County Fire Rescue flew the boy to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, according to the FWC spokeswoman.
Incidence of Boating Accidents in Florida
Florida leads the nation in registered vessels, with the number of vessels registered in the state standing at 950,740 in 2018. According to estimates, up to an additional one million non-registered vessels actively use Florida’s waters. With plenty of water space and a perfect climate making Florida a near-perfect destination for boating, it is not surprising that with a total of 628 reportable boating accidents in 2018 alone, the state also took the lead in boating accidents. There was a total of 59 fatalities arising out of 56 fatal accidents, the leading cause of death being drowning that claimed 29 fatalities.
Typical Injuries Arising from Boating Accidents
A large variety of accidents can happen while boating. It is common for injuries to be sustained when a boat crashes or capsizes throwing the occupant overboard. As may be appreciated, the most severe injuries occur then the boat collides with another vessel or any other object or land. Common types of boating accidents include fuel and fire injuries, slip and fall injuries, and drowning. According to FWC statistics, the leading cause of death on boating accidents is drowning. A majority of the injuries to the occupants of the boats were a result of them falling overboard; besides drowning, typically, the injuries included, broken bones, contusions, lacerations, bruises, head injuries, neck and spinal injuries, burns, infection of the lungs due to water inhalation, and hypothermia, to name some of the more common causes.
Monetary Compensation Due to a Boating Accident
If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident and sustained an injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Compensation for personal injuries may include reimbursement of your medical bills for treatment already done and expected to be required in the future, expenses for medicines and medical supplies already bought or required to be bought for ongoing treatment, loss of wages, pain, and suffering, as well as damage to property.
However, a typical challenge encountered by boating accident victims is that boats are not required by law to have liability insurance, unlike vehicles, although it is highly recommended. If you do not have insurance cover, your only option to claim compensation is from the party responsible for the accident, including the operator of the boat. An attorney who is experienced in handling boating accidents can review your case and advise you whether it is feasible and worthwhile to pursue a lawsuit for claiming compensation.
Contact an Experienced Attorney Today
If you have been involved in a boating accident that has resulted in your being injured, especially when the accident had been caused due to a distracted boat operator who was either distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should contact a competent Florida personal injury lawyer immediately.
For an expert evaluation of the potential of a lawsuit or a settlement, you can consult the experienced accident attorneys at , among most experienced personal injury law firms in Boca Raton. Possessing more than 130 years of accumulated personal injury litigation experience, our attorneys have both the skills and the competence to assist you to meet your legal needs. Call us today!