Boating Accidents Lawyers
If you or someone you care about was injured in a boating accident and you are unable to prove it, you may be able to bring a claim against responsible parties. These claims may help you obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and discomfort and pain.
An experienced lawyer can run a full investigation into your case. This can include gathering witness testimony and medical records, as well as other evidence to strengthen your case.
Boating Accidents: Causes and Prevention
Boat accidents can cause serious injuries or even death. These injuries can cause substantial losses for victims and their families, such as loss of income, medical expenses and rehabilitative costs.
There are many causes of boating accidents, which range from environmental causes to operator error. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if the victim had worn a personal flotation device, or PFD, prior to stepping onto the water.
1. Operator Inattention Attention Deficit - This is one of the leading causes of boating accidents in the United States. Boat operators are often distracted by objects or conditions in the water when they are focused on their tasks of navigation. This can result in accidents involving rollovers or collisions that could cause severe damage, and even death.
2. Incorrect Lookout: This could occur when the boat operator is not accompanied by a person to be responsible for watching for any dangerous objects or conditions on the water. This is a common issue on weekends and holidays when there are hundreds of boats on the water.
3. Hazardous Waters Hazardous Waters be awash with stones, currents, shallow water, and other hazards that are difficult to spot even by experienced boaters. Inexperienced operators are especially vulnerable to these hazards, since they might not be aware of how to navigate around them or avoid them.
4. Equipment Failure Boats, as with any vehicle, needs to be maintained regularly. It should also undergo regular inspections to make sure that everything is functioning properly. Equipment that is not working properly can cause major issues, for example, the steering mechanism breaking or malfunctioning engine, which can result in a crash or devastating injuries.
5. Alcohol & Drug Use – In addition to being extremely dangerous and illegal, operating a vessel while under the influence is also illegal. It can cause impaired decision-making and alcoholism, that can result in accidents and deaths.
6. Speeding - Despite the fact that there are no speed limit on the water boating is risky when you speed. Speeding can cause a boat's wheels to roll over or collision. It is also difficult to stop a boat quickly when it is moving at high speeds.
Injuries resulting from boating accidents
Boating is a popular leisure activity, but it's not without risk. Despite the fact that the number of deaths and injuries resulting from boating accidents has slowed in recent years, it's crucial to take your safety and your loved ones seriously when you're on the water.
Accidents can cause serious injuries that can cause costly medical bills and lost work time. Before submitting a claim for compensation, it is recommended to seek out a Miami lawyer for boating accidents. This will allow you to pay for medical expenses and losses.
Boating accidents can also trigger various kinds of back and neck injuries as well as traumatizing brain injuries. The severity of the injuries will vary. these injuries may cause permanent pain and disc herniation, nerve damage as well as other health issues that can last for a lifetime.
Burns are a frequent injury from boating accidents. Boat fires can result from fuel leaks and electrical short circuits maintenance errors and more. Passengers on a boat are more at risk of being burned than passengers in a car, since fires can start from the engine, or through the wiring.
Lacerations can also be a common boating injury. These can occur when the sharp propeller of a vessel strikes an individual's skin, causing deep cuts which can affect the nerves and muscles beneath the cut.
These injuries can be a painful and debilitating experience for the victims who typically require skin graft surgeries as well as months of rehabilitation to heal. They can also result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Spinal cord injuries are a important problem for boating accident victims. Blunt trauma to the spine and the spinal cord, as well as hyperextension or pinching of spinal cord, could result in severe neck or vertebral fractures that can hinder mobility and the ability to regulate body functions.
The damage to the nerve and the impairments that result could cause chronic discomfort, impaired mobility and even amputation. A person suffering from the condition may also suffer from depression and feeling of helplessness.
The most common fatal boating accident reported in Florida is drowning. While boat accident lawyer may survive drowning if they are given prompt assistance, it's a terrifying situation that can have lasting consequences.
Damages resulting from boating accidents
You may be entitled compensation if you've been injured in a boating incident or if you've lost a loved one. The damages you are able to recover include the costs of the medical treatment you received and any property damage that your injuries have caused. You may also be eligible to claim compensation for emotional pain and suffering that you endured as the result of your injuries.
The most common causes of boating accidents is falling overboard, capsizes or collisions with fixed objects or other vessels. These accidents can result in severe and fatal injuries for those who don't wear a life jacket, or are not properly trained.
Anyone who takes the water to enjoy themselves regardless of whether they are an experienced waterman or a novice, faces a high chance of falling overboard. This is a danger for anyone impaired by alcohol or drugs or who isn't aware of how to navigate in the water.
Capsizing could be fatal if the vessel is tossed or flipped by powerful waves. When this happens, all people on board and their operators may be injured, ranging from minor to severe.
Collisions with other vessels are a frequent reason for boating accidents particularly during the summers when people take to the water for fun. Inattention of the operator, malfunctioning equipment, and excessive speed are all causes that can lead to collisions between vessels which could result in serious injuries or fatalities.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating incident, you should immediately seek legal representation. A boating accident lawyer can guide you through the claims process and help you recover compensation for your losses and injuries.
While these types of injuries are relatively common, the most severe ones can have lasting impacts on the victim's physical and mental health. The effects of spinal cord injuries and brain damage, disfigurement broken bones, head trauma can significantly change the lives of those affected.
Spinal cord injuries are usually the most severe injuries victims suffer from in boating accidents. Hyperextension or trauma that is not treated properly can cut the spinal cord and cause nerve damage. This can lead to mobility impairments, inability to control body functions, and even paralysis.
Lawsuits against the government
You may be able bring a lawsuit against a government employee or agency if you've been injured in a boating incident due to their negligence. The process of suing the government could be complicated. It is recommended to consult an experienced lawyer.
Depending on the circumstances it is possible to bring a lawsuit against the government under various laws. Some of them include the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) as well as state tort claims statutes as well as local government immunity acts.
The FTCA is the primary law that governs personal injury lawsuits against the government. The FTCA restricts the amount of money that may be recovered and does not allow punitive damages. Some states also have damage caps that limit the amount you are able to recover.
You can also make a claim against an agency of the government, under the Suits in Admiralty Act or the Public Vessels Act. The SIAA and PVA allow you to sue the government for maritime claims which do not directly involve ships or public vessels.
These claims fall under the jurisdiction of the United States, which means that you can sue the federal government in federal court to remedy an injury to you or someone else in the high seas or navigable waters. The SIAA and PVA also grant you a two-year statute of limitations to bring a suit against the government.
If you're bringing a case against the government, it's crucial to be aware that the government will have to respond to your claim within six months. If you fail to file your claim by time this period expires the case could be dismissed and you'll lose the ability to claim any damages.
One example of a suit against the government that we recently brought involved one man who was stranded in the water for six hours after his boat sank. He received $875,000 from the government in the form of an agreement to settle after filing a negligence suit against the Coast Guard.