Spring Hill, FL Boat Accident Attorney

Recreational boating is extremely popular in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says there were 985,000 registered boats and personal watercraft in the state in 2020, the most in the nation, and up to 1 million non-registered vessels that actively use Florida’s waters.

Unfortunately, the high number of boats and boaters in Florida leads to many boating accidents. Florida leads the nation in the number of boating fatalities annually. According to the Wildlife Commission, there were 836 reportable boating accidents in Florida in 2020. This included 77 fatal accidents resulting in 79 deaths, and 375 boating accidents that left 534 people injured.

After contacting law enforcement and seeking medical attention, you should contact a Spring Hill boat accident injury attorney at Zervos & Calta, PLLC to discuss your rights to claim compensation. Boat owners and operators can be held to account when their negligence or recklessness leads to harm.

Our boat accident attorneys have the skills and resources to fight aggressively for the full payment you deserve for injuries and other losses. Contact our boat accident lawyers in Spring Hill to schedule your free legal consultation.

Boating Accidents and Injuries in Spring Hill, FL

The boating accident attorneys of Zervos & Calta have more than 50 years of combined legal experience and are quite familiar with boating accident injuries in Florida. The types of boating accident cases we have handled over the years are much the same as the Wildlife Commission describes in its annual reports.

Most boating accidents are collisions that lead to boat occupants falling overboard or being thrown onto the deck of the boat. Many boaters fall overboard and drown or suffer near-drowning injuries. Sometimes the boat involved in a collision or grounding becomes flooded and capsizes and/or sinks.

Common boating accidents include:

• Collisions with other vessels
• Collisions with fixed objects
• Grounding
• Capsizing
• Falls overboard
• Fall on/within the boat
• Falls while operating personal watercraft such as jet skis
• Fire/explosion
• Collision with floating object/person
• Striking underwater objects
• Skiers hitting objects or suffering other mishaps

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which investigates boating accidents and can file criminal charges, reports that the primary causes of boat accidents include:

• No proper look-out/inattention
• Operator inexperience
• Excessive speed
• Sharp turn
• Violation of navigation rules
• Carelessness/recklessness
• Alcohol/drug use
• Boat occupant/skier behavior
• Ignition of fuel vapor
• Vision obstructed
• Overloading vessels
• Equipment failure

In addition to drowning and near-drowning, which can cause brain injury due to oxygen deprivation, common injuries suffered in boating accidents include:

• Head injuries due to blunt-force impact
• Broken bones
• Neck injures
• Back injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Internal organ injuries
• Sprains / strains
• Cuts and bruises
• Burns
• Hypothermia

Boat accident injuries can require emergency medical care and lead to hospitalization and lengthy recoveries. Some result in lifelong disabilities or death. When injuries or fatalities are caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, such as a boat operator who was drinking or not paying attention to what was going on in the waters ahead, the injured may deserve compensation for their losses.

The Boating Accident Lawyers Zervos & Calta, PLLC Can Help

Zervos & Calta, PLLC represents individuals and families injured in boat accidents that were caused by others’ negligence. We investigate boating accidents on behalf of the injured to determine how they were caused and who should be held financially accountable. We help clients pursue claims for compensation against negligent boat operators or passengers, or against those responsible for faulty boating equipment.

What Should I Do After I Have Been Injured In A Boating Accident?

Anyone injured in a boating accident, no matter how minor, should take the following steps if they are able.

• Take pictures to illustrate the accident, including the other boats or structures involved.
• Make sure the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or police respond to the accident and ask how you can obtain an incident report. Get the report as soon as possible.
• Get the contact information for everyone involved.
• Seek a medical evaluation within 24 hours of the boat accident, even if you think you aren’t badly hurt. Some serious injuries, including brain injuries, may not exhibit symptoms right away. Medical records will be the basis of your claim if you are significantly injured.

If you or a family member has been injured in a boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to demand financial compensation for your losses. A Spring Hill boat accident lawyer can protect your rights by filing an insurance claim and negotiating for an appropriate settlement on your behalf. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit asking the court to order the payment you are due.

How Can a Boating Accident Attorney Help Me?

If you were significantly injured in a boat accident, you may face medical bills and the loss of income due to time away from work. If someone else caused your injuries, their insurance should compensate you for your losses, including your pain and suffering. Hiring a boating accident attorney who understands federal maritime law as well as Florida personal injury law will increase your chances of receiving full and fair compensation. You will be at a disadvantage if you try to deal with an insurance company without a lawyer representing you.

The boat accident attorneys of the law firm of Zervos & Calta, PLLC will:

• Investigate to determine liability. To pursue compensation for your boating accident injuries, you’ll need to show who was at fault. While the Wildlife Commission should investigate, they may not determine fault. Liability isn’t always straightforward. Multiple parties may share liability, in which case, we would pursue compensation from all responsible parties.
• Protect your rights. Recovering compensation for a boat accident can be a complicated process. Many boating accident lawsuits must be brought in federal court because most waterways in Florida fall under federal maritime law. Some accident cases may be brought in state courts. Florida is a comparative negligence state. That means that if you are found to be partly at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced accordingly. We will fight any attempt by the other side to blame you.
• Demand full compensation. On top of medical bills and lost income, you might not be able to return to work or take part in activities you once enjoyed. We will document your injuries and costs and the impact the accident has had on your life. Based on a full accounting, we will demand the highest compensation available to you and fight to secure the settlement you need.
• Take your case to court. While we can settle most claims out of court, we will be prepared to go to court if necessary. it isn’t always possible. Because we thoroughly investigate boating accidents and fully document total costs and losses, we will be prepared to take your case to trial. Our team has years of courtroom experience and can persuasively advocate for your interests at trial.