Boating Accident Lawyer in Boynton Beach
Boat owners have the duty to exercise reasonable care when operating their watercraft. Failure to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of others can leave them liable for injuries due to any accident they cause. Boating accidents in Boynton Beach can be caused by a number of different factors, such as:
- Reckless driving
- Reckless behavior by passengers
- Failure to be attentive while behind the wheel
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Failure to adjust behavior according to weather conditions
Boating accidents caused by negligent behavior can lead to severe or catastrophic injuries or even wrongful death. It is the victims of these horrible accidents that have the burden of proving negligence on the part of the other driver. An experienced Boynton Beach boating accident attorney from the law offices of Wolf & Pravato can help lift that burden by offering invaluable legal advice and working toward getting you the compensation you need in order to recover from your injuries.
Damages in Boynton Beach Boating Accident Claims
In Boynton Beach boating injury lawsuits, you may be eligible to compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages incurred due to your inability to work because of your injuries
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
In many cases, the insurance company for the boater responsible for the accident will be willing to settle out of court. An experienced team of Boynton Beach boating accident attorneys should always be consulted before settling to negotiate the best possible compensation. If a case does not settle, a jury will determine appropriate damages after we help you prove your case. However, just the thought of facing us in court may be enough for our adversaries to agree to our demands at the negotiating table.
When a boat accident occurs and an injured plaintiff wishes to recover damages, there may be special legal issues to deal with. In some cases – generally involving commercial vessels- federal maritime law will apply and impose different rules for recovery than state tort law. Our Boynton Beach personal injury attorneys can explain to you all the potential legal issues and help you to determine what laws will govern your case.
Boating Safety Facts to Keep You Safe on The Water in Boynton Beach
When the spring and summer weather hits, thousands of Floridians hit the waves alongside their tourist compatriots for fun in the sun. But every year at the same time, boating accidents in Boynton Beach go up due to several factors including the added traffic on the waterways. In Boynton Beach alone, there are over 5,000 boating accidents annually. However, knowledge can be a powerful thing and knowing how to best avoid a boating accident can actually save your life. For legal help contact our Boynton Beach boating accident lawyer.
Causing Boating Accidents under the Influence in Boynton Beach
One of the chief culprits when it comes to causing boating accidents is alcohol. Just like driving under the influence can often lead to fatalities, boating under the influence is also a major problem. In fact, alcohol contributes to 21% of all boating accident fatalities. Just like it is imperative that you not drink and drive and that you keep a designated driver on stand-by when you go out, it is equally imperative that you not imbibe while operating a boat or other water vehicle. If you are involved in an accident that injures or kills someone else, you can be held accountable—especially if you have been drinking.
Another major contributing factor is the lack of boating safety instructions. In many cases, just the knowledge of what to do in a dangerous situation and how to handle the boat properly can actually help to prevent an accident. Of all boating fatalities, 86% involved a boat operator who had not received any boating safety instruction. Boynton Beach currently offers an online boating safety certification that can not only keep you safe, but also lower your boat insurance premiums and save you money in the long run. For more information contact our boating accident lawyer in Boynton Beach.
Stay Safe on the Water is Wear a Life Preserver
Finally, one of the simplest things that a person can do to stay safe on the water is wear a life preserver/life jacket. Many people complain that they are too bulky or not necessary, but the facts don’t bear this out: 90% of the people who drowned as a result of a Boynton Beach boating accident were not wearing a life jacket. This is probably the easiest fix for keeping yourself alive and safe.
The top five causes of boating accidents are operator inattention, reckless boating, reckless behavior, speeding, and alcohol use. The owner of the boat can be held legally responsible for any personal injuries as a result of an accident. If you have been injured in such an incident, the Boynton Beach boating accident attorneys at the law offices of Wolf & Pravato will independently review your case and apprise you of your rights and the options you have regarding reimbursement for your injury.
More often than not, the operator of the boat never attended any safety training and could have been under the influence of alcohol. In most cases, the operator of the watercraft can be held liable in accidents. Our Boynton Beach boating accident lawyer will conduct our own investigation into the accident and fight to get you everything you deserve.
Recreational Boating Safety Statistics the USCG reported that:
- Over two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 90%percent were not wearing a life jacket.
- Only 14% of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
- Three out of every four boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length.
- Operator inattention, careless/reckless operation, passenger/skier behavior, excessive speed, and alcohol use rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
- Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 21% of the deaths.
- The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (44%), personal watercraft (24%), and cabin motorboats (15%)
Contact Our Boynton Beach Boating Accident Lawyer
Injured parties may file a lawsuit for compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost past and future wages and punitive damages. If you have been injured in an accident on a boat in Boynton Beach – contact the Boynton Beach boating accident lawyers at the law office of Wolf & Pravato at 1-954-633-8270.
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