Boating offers citizens of Florida a great chance to escape the heat and enjoy a pleasant day on the water. But some waterway activities come with the risk of serious injury. If you were hurt in such an accident, our boat accident attorneys in St. Petersburg may be able to help you obtain compensation.
Our legal team has extensive experience helping individuals and families win substantial settlements and verdicts in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We can help you gather evidence, avoid critical mistakes, and fight for the funds you need to move on with life.
Can a St. Petersburg Boat Accident Attorney Help Me Prove Negligence?
To win a case against a defendant boater, the injured party must be able to prove that the boater was negligent. In other words, they failed in their duty to protect the injured person. To prove this, the attorney must provide the court with evidence that the negligent boater acted in such a way as to cause the accident.
If a plaintiff can produce evidence that the defendant boater violated a rule of the water such as speeding, driving where boats are not permitted, or was operating while drunk, these cases can be fairly simple. However, many cases rely on circumstantial evidence of both parties’ actions prior to the collision. These cases will look at what the defendant did to cause the accident as well as any failure on the part of the plaintiff to avoid the accident.
No matter the strategy utilized in these boat accident cases, every claim is limited by time. A Florida law known as the statute of limitations strictly controls when a plaintiff can file a case in court. According to Florida Statute §95.11, plaintiffs must act within four years of the date of the accident if they wish to demand compensation. Contact a St. Petersburg boat accident lawyer immediately to get started.
The Duty of Care Owed by Boaters
Anytime a person gets behind the controls of any vehicle, they assume a duty to protect any other person that they may encounter. This is similar to the duties taken on by motorists on Florida roads. As a result, boaters must be careful to not get into any accidents with anyone else they may find on the water. This extends not just to the captains of other vessels, but also to:
- Swimmers
- Passengers
- Kayakers
- Jet Skiers
- Canoers
This duty is automatic and cannot be avoided. It is part of the social contract that all boaters become a part of as soon as they take their vessels away from the dock. Because of this duty, there is a legal responsibility attached to all boating activities.
Our Boat Accident Lawyers Can Help
Accidents that happen on waterways can result in serious injuries. Our boat accident lawyers in St. Petersburg provide tenacious advocacy to people who have been harmed in these scenarios.
We can help you pursue a fair settlement or verdict. Call today to schedule a free consultation.
