Naples Boat Accident Lawyer

As we officially enter the summer months, more and more people are finding their way onto the water to enjoy Florida’s balmy weather and beautiful beaches. Unfortunately, boating has also proven to be a dangerous pastime in Florida, which has one of the highest rates of boating accidents in the nation. The injuries sustained in these types of accidents tend to be severe, leaving injured parties to foot the bill for expensive medical bills, making it especially important for those who are injured in boat accidents, to contact a team of experienced Naples boat accident lawyers who can help them seek compensation for their losses.

How Common are Boating Accidents?

Boating accidents occur much more often than most people realize. In fact, according to the U.S. Coast Guards recent report, there were 607 boat accidents in Florida in 2018 alone. These accidents resulted in a further 297 injuries and 57 deaths and caused more than $7 million in property damage.

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Boating Accidents Caused by Negligence

Boats can be difficult to operate and maneuver, so it may come as no surprise that the majority of boat accidents can actually be attributed to operator error, which includes inattention and failing to maintain a proper lookout. For instance, in 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that 38 percent of all boat accidents could be linked to these two causes. Operator inexperience, machinery failure, and excessive speed were also found to contribute to an inordinate number of boat accidents.

Types of Boating Accidents

Although most of the boat accidents that take place in Florida involve collisions, either with another boat or a fixed object, these are by no means the only types of boat accidents that occur in the state. Flooding and swamping, for example, as well as grounding and capsizing are also responsible for hundreds of boat accidents every year. While collisions often result in the most serious injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, lacerations, and contusions, falling overboard and drowning have actually proved to be the most fatal for boaters.

Potential Liability

Whether an injured boater can recover compensation after an accident will depend on the specific circumstances of the case, including who owned or was operating the boat, whether the injured party was a child, and whether intoxication, or another boating violation was involved. Boat owners who fail to provide safety equipment, such as flotation devices and fire extinguishers for instance, could face liability if their failure caused or contributed to a guests injury. Similarly, a failure to perform regular maintenance on a boat can open an owner up to liability, as can operating a boat in a reckless manner or driving while intoxicated. In some situations, accidents can be attributed not to driver error, but to a manufacturing defect, in which case, the manufacturer could be required to compensate the victim for related losses.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Naples Boat Accident Lawyers Today

To speak with an experienced Naples boat accident lawyer about recovering compensation for your own accident-related injuries, please call Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers Law at 561-500-HELPtoday.