Boating Accident Lawyer

Florida, and in particular South Florida, has more registered boaters than any other state across the country, with an estimated 1 million boaters operating on the miles and miles of oceans, rivers, lakes, and other navigable waterways.  Unfortunately, while Florida’s coastline provides some of the most beautiful sandy beaches and breathtaking water views, it also provides for some of the most dangerous boating in the world.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were close to 1,000 boating accidents in Florida in 2010 alone resulting in almost 400 injuries, and from 2003 to 2007, there were approximately 3,364 boating accidents that claimed the lives of 351 people.  Of those accidents in 2010 which resulted in fatality, 66% involved operators who had never taken a boating safety course.

Under Florida law, the operator of a boat and its owner must exercise the highest degree of caution in order to prevent injuries to passengers, swimmers in the water or any additional vessels on the water.  The leading causes of boating accidents are:

• Operator inattention
• Passenger/skier behavior
• Careless/Reckless operation
• No proper lookout
• Operator inexperience
• Excessive speed
• Alcohol Use
• Weather
• Equipment failure

The most frequent type of boating accidents are collisions with other vessels or fixed objects, such as a skier, waverunner, jetski, falling overboard and capsizing.  The legal rights for your claim will vary depending upon certain factors, such as the individual circumstances surrounding the accident and your relationship to the vessel.

A boating accident lawyer with Kelley/Uustal has represented clients throughout South Florida in numerous types of boat and watercraft accidents:

• Private boats
• Charter boats and ferries
• Cruise ships
• Jet skis
• Waverunners
• Personal watercraft
• Marina/dock accidents
• Diving injuries
• Drunk boating

It is crucial to receive legal advice immediately to ensure that the maximum amount of compensation available for your case will be retrieved. The law firm of Kelley/Uustal has over 100 years of combined legal experience working exclusively in personal injury litigation, and specifically boating negligence, and has an unparalleled reputation for providing aggressive representation on behalf of our clients in the pursuit of justice.

Our law firm has represented thousands of individuals as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you have been injured in a boating accident in Florida, please contact a personal injury lawyer at Kelley/Uustal today by calling us at 866-522-6601 or by filling out our contact form.