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Tampa Boat Accident Lawyers

From small watercrafts for personal enjoyment to large fishing and industrial boats, all water vessels should be carefully operated for the safety of passengers and other vessels in the water. When someone is reckless or negligent when operating a boat and injures others, they should be held responsible for their actions. If you have been injured in a boating accident, you may have a maritime injury claim. At Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law in Tampa, FL, we can connect you with an experienced boating accident injury lawyer from our team to discuss your personal injury claim.

Types of Tampa Boating Accidents

Injuries that occur on the water are regulated by both maritime and admiralty law, as well as Florida state tort laws. Whether you were on a leisure cruise out of Tampa Bay or operating a personal watercraft when the boat injury accident occurred, if negligence caused your injury, you may have a legal right to pursue compensation. Some of the types of boating injury accidents that may results in a legal claim against the negligent entity include:

  • Unsafe boat equipment
  • Defective watercraft
  • Drunk or impaired boat operators
  • Reckless boating maneuvers
  • Boat collisions
  • Excessive speed

Boat accidents can be deadly in the open waters. When a boat accident occurs due to safety concerns with the vessel or negligence on the part of the operator or owner, maritime and personal injury laws may be used to seek compensation for the victims.

What is Considered a Boat Accident Under Florida law?

Under Florida law, a boat accident is defined as a collision or other incident involving a vessel operating on Florida waters that results in one or more of the following:

  • Death or disappearance of a person.
  • An injury that requires medical attention beyond immediate first aid.
  • Property damage to the vessel(s) or other property in excess of $2,000.
  • The total loss of a vessel.

It’s worth noting that this definition of a boat accident includes not only collisions between two or more boats but also incidents such as capsizing, grounding, and collisions with fixed objects, such as docks or bridges.

It’s important to report a boat accident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as soon as possible, especially if it meets one or more of the criteria listed above. Florida law requires operators of boats involved in accidents to report the incident to the FWC if the accident results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $2,000. Additionally, any accident that results in a person’s disappearance must be reported to the FWC. An experienced boating accident attorney at Ligori & Ligori can help you navigate the specific steps you need to take after your boating accident and during your maritime personal injury cases.

Common Types of Boat Accident Injuries

Boating accidents in Tampa can and have resulted in a variety of injuries, some of which are severe or even fatal. Some of the most common injuries that occur in boating accidents include:

  • Drowning: This is one of the most common and most serious injuries that can occur in a boating accident. It is essential to wear a life jacket or personal flotation device to prevent drowning.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Boating accidents can cause head injuries that can range from minor concussions to severe TBIs. Wearing a helmet while participating in water sports can help prevent these injuries.
  • Broken bones: The impact of a collision with another boat or a submerged object can result in broken bones, especially in the arms and legs.
  • Cuts and lacerations: Broken glass and sharp metal edges on boats can cause cuts and lacerations that can range from minor to severe.
  • Hypothermia: Falling into cold water can cause hypothermia, a condition where the body temperature drops dangerously low, leading to severe health problems.
  • Burns: Fuel leaks or fires on a boat can cause burns that can range from minor to severe, depending on the intensity of the fire.

While most boating accidents can be avoided with proper safety precautions, they still occur. In Tampa, boat accident injuries often demand strong legal representation from a maritime lawyer to recover your medical bills and lost wages.

How Long Can You Wait to File a Boat Accident Claim in Florida?

If you’ve been involved in a boat accident in Tampa, Florida, you may have a limited time to file a legal claim for damages. In general, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims related to boat accidents in Florida is four years from the date of the accident. However, there are some important exceptions to this general rule.

For example, if the accident involved a government-owned vessel, you may have to file a claim within a shorter period of time. Additionally, if you’re making a Tampa boat accident claim against a cruise line or other commercial vessel, the terms of your contract may require you to file a claim within a certain timeline.

We recommend consulting with one of our boat accident attorneys as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that you understand your legal rights and the deadlines for filing a claim. Waiting too long to file a claim can result in a complete loss of your right to seek compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Additionally, gathering evidence and building a strong case takes time, so it’s important to begin the process as soon as possible after the accident. An experienced maritime attorney from Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law can help you navigate the legal process of a boating accident case, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the claims process.

What Type of Compensation Can Be Awarded in a Boating Accident Lawsuit

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident in Florida, you may be entitled to seek compensation through a legal claim. The specific types of compensation available will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident and the injuries you sustained. Here are some of the types of compensation that our maritime injury lawyers will consider in a boating accident legal claim:

  • Medical Expenses: This includes compensation for any medical treatment related to the accident, including hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s visits, prescription medication, rehabilitation, and other related expenses.
  • Lost Wages: You may be able to recover compensation for any lost wages or income resulting from the accident, including time off from work for medical treatment and recovery.
  • Pain and Suffering: This type of compensation is designed to compensate you for physical and emotional pain resulting from the accident, including physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
  • Property Damage: If your boat or other personal property was damaged in the accident, you may be able to seek compensation for the cost of repairs or replacement.
  • Wrongful Death: If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, you may be able to seek compensation for damages related to their death, including funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship.

It’s important to note that Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced accordingly. Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has maritime injury lawyers who are fully equipped to represent victims of Tampa boat accidents. We can help you understand your legal rights and the types of compensation that may be available to you.

Contact Our Boat Accident Attorneys in Tampa

Anyone who operates a boat on navigable waters needs to follow the associated laws and be conscious of preventing accidents with other vessels. Whether it is a boat colliding with another, or hitting a personal watercraft like a jet ski, boat collisions can cause significant injuries and death. If you or a loved one were victims in a boating collision that was caused by negligence by a boat operator, you should seek legal advice about your case.

Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has several offices in Florida and admiralty/maritime law injury lawyers that can investigate your boat accident injury claim. If we take your case, we will tirelessly pursue compensation for expenses related to your boating accident injury as well as lost wages and other monetary losses. Call or contact our office in Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, Ocala or Key West, FL, to talk to one of our maritime injury lawyers about your boat accident injury claim.

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What Our Clients Say

"El bufete del Sr. Ligori se tomó el tiempo para explicar el proceso legal y encontrar otro abogado en otro condado. Si este bufete de abogados puede hacer un esfuerzo adicional por su cliente, imagine la dedicación y la experiencia si usted fuera su cliente."
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