Boating is a thrilling hobby that is loved by many throughout the state of Florida. However, accidents can happen on the water for a number of reasons, including negligence or carelessness. When these incidents result in physical injuries, a Tavares boat accident lawyer could help you understand your legal options and what steps to take next.
The consequences of a watercraft collision can be expensive; let a skilled personal injury attorney with experience in these types of cases help you assess your damages, build a strong settlement demand, and seek fair compensation in court. Reach out to the Largey Law Firm today to begin reviewing the details of your claim.
Common Causes of Boat Wrecks
An essential part of any injury claim is determining how the event happened. When a Tavares boat crash attorney takes on one of these cases, they will carefully investigate the details and all available evidence to determine the cause of the incident. Some of the most common ways watercraft injuries happen include:
- A boater operating their vehicle while under the influence
- Operator inexperience
- Boating in unsafe conditions, such as during storms
- Mechanical defects
- Colliding with an underwater object
- Colliding with another vessel
- Passengers falling overboard
Injuries can range in severity from minor cuts and bruises to more catastrophic forms of harm, such as traumatic brain injuries. In more severe circumstances, harm can be fatal and result in wrongful death. Any person injured at the hands of a negligent boat operator could be entitled to financial compensation to help restore some of the losses they have endured.
Compensation Following a Boat Crash
Financial compensation can come in many different forms. A person injured due to an act of negligence could recover a monetary award based on their physical, financial, and emotional losses. Some of these include:
- Past and future medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished future earning power
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Lost enjoyment of life
Establishing the value of a personal injury case is just as important as proving that the defendant was at fault. To assign value to their losses, an injured party may introduce different pieces of evidence, including medical bills and employment records. However, other types of damages, such as disfigurement or pain and suffering, are more subjective in nature and can be more challenging to evaluate. A qualified Tavares boat accident attorney could seek the professional opinion of expert witnesses to help with this process.
Shared Fault
Florida courts use a legal principle known as pure comparative negligence to determine the degree of liability of each party involved in a boating accident. According to Florida Statute § 768.81, a judge will assign fault to each party as a percentage. If a defendant can establish that the injured party was negligent, a jury could reduce their amount of monetary damages by the percentage of their blame.
Contact a Tavares Boat Accident Attorney Today
If you have been injured in a boat wreck, the right attorney could help you determine what financial compensation you may be entitled to recover. At Largey Law Firm, our team could provide you with guidance on the important legal issues in your case and advise you on the best ways to pursue your options. Contact a Tavares boat accident lawyer from our firm today to get started.
