West Palm Beach Boat Accident Attorneys
If you live near or in West Palm Beach, enjoying boating is practically a requirement. Indeed, boating is one of the recreation options of choice for West Palm Beach citizens, and is often paired with water sports, swimming, fishing, and more. While we love boating as much as the next person, we also know that boating can be dangerous, especially when negligence is involved.
If you have been involved in a boat accident, our West Palm Beach boat accidents lawyer can help. Call us today to learn more.
Top Causes of Boating Accidents
Mother Nature can be brutal, and some boating accidents occur as the result of harsh weather conditions and storms. In most cases, though, boating accidents are the result of negligence. Examples of negligence that can lead to a boating accident include:
- Operating a boat while intoxicated or impaired;
- Driving a boat too fast for conditions;
- Failing to adhere to required safety rules, such as maintaining a slow speed in no-wake zones;
- Operating a boat without proper experience or training;
- Boat passenger negligence, such as rough-housing;
- Improperly looking out when someone is in the water;
- Taking a turn too fast or doing “tricks”; and
- Failing to check for weather and storm warnings before taking a boat out.
In some cases, boating accidents may also be the result of a boat defect.
Injuries from Boating Accidents
Injuries from boating accidents can be tragic. Depending on the type of accident, injuries might include head and traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, propeller injuries, back and neck injuries, and–often most seriously–drowning and near-drowning injuries. A near-drowning injury can cause permanent, irreversible loss of brain function.
Liability for a Boating Accident in West Palm Beach
When a boating accident occurs and someone is seriously injured, it’s important that the cause of the accident is determined and the liable party is identified. Liability for a boating accident is based on negligence–the failure to exercise the required degree of care. If you can prove that a boat operator, boat passenger, or even a boat manufacturer acted negligently and that negligence was the proximate cause of your harm, you can bring a claim for damages against that party. Unfortunately, boat insurance is not required in Florida, which means that unless the person against whom you’re filing a claim has insurance, recording compensation may prove difficult.
Call Our West Palm Beach Boating Accident Lawyers Today
Our West Palm Beach boating accident lawyers at the office of Smith, Ball & Báez Injury Lawyers understand how terrible a serious boating accident can be and how desperately you may require compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. You are not alone–our West Palm Beach boating accident lawyers can help. If you have been injured in a boating accident, please reach out to us directly for a free consultation about your options and how our lawyers can help you to recover the settlement you deserve.
Please call us directly or send us a message at your convenience to learn more about how we can help.
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Over 65 Years of Experience
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