Florida is a fantastic place to enjoy time on the water on a personal watercraft. With amazing sun year-round, you can relish the ocean from the comfort of your boat.
But things don’t always go as planned on the water. Boating accidents can happen unexpectedly, leaving you in a difficult situation. Whether you’re on a speedboat, jet ski, or any other type of watercraft, you’ll need the assistance of a skilled Tampa boat accident lawyer to manage the situation and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
How Can a Boating Accident Lawyer in Tampa Help You?
Navigating the aftermath of a boat accident can be challenging. You’re dealing with legal issues and may have a serious injury to handle. It’s not a situation you want to deal with alone.
A skilled Tampa boat accident lawyer can help you manage the legal process and seek compensation for the personal injury claim. Whether you’re dealing with boat accidents or jet ski accidents, your attorney will examine the details of your case, determine who is at fault, develop a winning strategy, and help you get the best possible outcome.
Experienced legal help is especially important in more severe boat accident injuries. It can help you build a case that enables you to get financial compensation for yourself and your loved one and navigate complex legal processes with ease.
Benefits of Hiring a Boating Accident Lawyer
Some boating accidents aren’t open and shut—meaning getting an insurance settlement will be challenging. Here is how hiring Tampa boat accident lawyers can help.
- Investigation help: Get help examining the accident to uncover details that will help your boating accident case.
- Paperwork support: Consult a boating accident attorney to understand the legal paperwork you must file to submit an insurance claim and challenge unacceptable results.
- Trial help: Work with an attorney to bring your case to trial if you don’t get a settlement from the insurance company.
- Prove fault: Gather information to prove fault in your boating accident to hold the other party responsible.
- Negotiation support: Have your attorney negotiate on your behalf to get a better settlement.
Tampa boating accident victims can rely on experienced lawyers to navigate the complexities of boat accidents and pursue the justice they deserve.
Boating Accident Injuries and Losses
When a boating accident occurs, the injured party often faces serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Common boating injuries include:
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These serious injuries can lead to paralysis or long-term disability, drastically affecting quality of life.
- Broken Bones: Boat accidents frequently result in broken bones, requiring surgery and long recovery periods.
- Lacerations and Cuts: Sharp objects and boat propellers can cause deep lacerations, leading to significant blood loss and requiring stitches or surgery.
- Burns: Fires or explosions on a boat can cause severe burns, which may require extensive medical treatment and lead to permanent scarring.
- Drowning or Near-Drowning: In more severe cases, victims may suffer from drowning or near-drowning, resulting in brain damage or even death.
Filing a boating accident claim or lawsuit with the help of an attorney can help alleviate financial burdens and seek compensation for serious injuries and lost wages.
Our Process: What to Expect When Hiring a Tampa Boating Accident Attorney
Burnett Law has years of experience with personal injury cases, and in that time, we’ve developed a process to help our clients get results. Here is what to expect when working with us on your boating accident case:
- Free Consultation: Speak with a Burnett Law attorney about your case to give us details about your situation during a free case evaluation.
- Client onboarding: Hire Burnett Law to handle your boat accident claim and begin providing all information relevant to your accident.
- Case investigation: A Burnett Law injury lawyer will investigate your case to learn all the details and prepare the best claim to submit to the insurance company.
- Claim submission: Burnett Law will work with you to file your claim with the other party to get a settlement.
- Case negotiation: Burnett Law will negotiate a settlement on your behalf to get the best result possible.
- Trial preparation: If necessary, Burnett Law will prepare your case for trial if we can’t negotiate a reasonable settlement.
Whether you’re dealing with a boating accident or any other type of personal injury, our experienced legal team is here to help. We represent boating accident victims with the dedication and expertise needed to achieve favorable outcomes.
Why Should You Choose Burnett Law?
Burnett Law is a trusted and experienced law firm in the personal injury field. We have years of experience representing clients and helping them get the settlements they deserve.
Our legal team will work with you on your boating accident case to develop the best strategy to help you deal with the insurance company, other boat operators involved in the accident, and law enforcement—no matter what types of boating accidents you’re dealing with. We’ll fight with you until the negligent boaters responsible for the accident are held accountable.
FAQs About Hiring a Tampa Boating Accident Lawyer
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Florida?
Boating accidents happen every day in Florida. Reporting shows that there were 735 boating accidents in Florida in 2022—an average of more than two per day. Although this number is lower than in previous years, the number of boater fatalities is higher than in the past.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Boating Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of boating accidents usually involve boat operator inattention, improper lookout, lack of boating safety measures, operator inattention, and inexperience. When boat operators fail to follow basic safety guidelines or become distracted, boating accidents occur more frequently. In some tragic cases, these accidents can result in serious injuries or even fatal boating accidents. It’s crucial for boat operators to remain vigilant and practice boating safety at all times to prevent such accidents.
Familiarize yourself with boating safety to operate safely on the water and avoid accidents.
What Is the Law in Florida for Boating Accidents with Injuries?
Florida law states that you’re entitled to compensation for medical expenses if another boat operator was negligent during the operation of their boat.
Some common causes of negligence are boat operators moving at an excessive speed, not paying attention, and ignoring proper precautions. Some cases may be hard to prove, but you can file a boating accident claim and get compensation if you can.
What Should You Do After a Boating Accident in Florida?
Suffering from a boat accident can be a jarring experience. But if it happens to you, keep your cool and follow the proper procedures for an accident:
- Call the Florida Coast Guard
- Get medical treatment for your boating accident injuries
- Document the accident scene
- Contact personal injury attorneys
- File your boating accident claim
Be sure to collect as much information as possible during this process. The more information you have to prove your claim, the better your chance of seeing a successful result.
Can I Sue for Wrongful Death After a Fatal Boating Accident?
Yes, you can file a wrongful death claim if a loved one dies as a result of a fatal boating accident. These cases are often complex and require the expertise of a wrongful death attorney who understands the nuances of fatal accidents. Your attorney will help you prove negligence on the part of the boat operator or another party, guide you through the legal process, and work to secure compensation for your loss, including lost wages and emotional distress.
About Our Tampa Lawyers
Our lead personal injury lawyer, Joshua E. Burnett, has over two decades of experience fighting for those who suffered boating accident injuries due to another’s negligence or misconduct. He focuses on getting each of our clients the maximum recovery possible.
In addition to personal injury cases, Mr. Burnett has experience practicing medical malpractice law. He also has represented thousands in property insurance disputes, making him an insightful attorney.
Mr. Burnett and our experienced team of personal injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting for your rights.
Request a Free Consultation with Our Experienced Tampa Lawyers
A boat accident can be a traumatic experience. Your life is turned upside down because of the accident, you need to deal with boat property damage, and you’re forced to handle any serious boat accident injuries you suffered because of the boat crash.
Having the right help on your side can help ensure you get the help you deserve. Request a free consultation to learn how our personal injury lawyers can help you settle your case.