What Are Your Rights After A Boating Accident?
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
No matter the time of year, Florida enjoys wonderful weather that is perfect for heading out on the water. But boats do carry some measure of risk with them, and if you're injured in a boating accident it's important to remember that you do still have a number of rights. Chief among them is that if your injuries were caused as a result of the reckless or negligent actions of another, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your injuries. A personal injury boating accident case could be filed and lead to you receiving significant financial restitution for your injuries - or at least receiving the money you need to get your finances back on track and focus on your physical recovery instead of your financial one.
There are just a few things to understand regarding boating accident cases. Luckily, they're so similar to auto accident personal injury cases that it's fairly straightforward to gain a basic comprehension of the subject.
Can You Seek Compensation?
What it generally boils down to is whether or not you can seek financial compensation for your injuries. Under Florida law, a boating accident is similar to an auto accident in that in order to receive compensation, you have to prove that the other party acted in a negligent or reckless manner and that those actions contributed to the accident that caused your injuries.
This can mean a lot of different things, including:
- Operating a boat while intoxicated
- Operating at an unsafe speed
- Failure to properly maintain a boat
- Failure to keep proper safety equipment and floatation devices on board
- And more
Essentially, you have to show that your injuries were sustained as a result of someone's willful negligence. This means that you also must be able to show that those actions would have been judged to be unsafe by any reasonable person - failure to correct an issue that was unknown doesn't count, for example.
If you're unsure as to whether or not you have the grounds to seek compensation, your first step should always be to seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney. A Florida accident lawyer can help tell you whether or not you have a case and what steps you can take to get the compensation that you deserve.
What Steps Should You Take
Obviously, talking to a professional attorney is the key to getting the best possible outcome for a boating accident case, but there are several other things that you should keep in mind as well. There are several steps you'll want to follow in order to help your attorney get the compensation that you're owed.
- Visit a medical professional as soon as you have the opportunity. Even if you feel fine and assume that you're not injured, some injuries can manifest hours or even days after an accident. And Florida PIP coverage only protects you if you seek medical attention with in the first seven days following an accident.
- Keep records of everything, from your medical bills to your lost hours at work to accident reports from the police or first responders. These can help create a paper trail that will make it easier for you to prove your case.
- Contact an attorney. This is incredibly important since it is the only way to ensure that you receive the best outcome from your case. Your attorney will argue your case, help you understand more about your rights, and stand up to insurance companies that may not want to work with you.
No matter the severity of your injuries, you have rights. If your accident was caused by the reckless, negligent actions of another, it's vital that you talk to an attorney as soon as possible. It could help you get the compensation that you are owed.