Practice Areas - Boating Accidents

Florida Boating Accident Lawyers

Fort Lauderdale Boating Accidents

Florida has miles and miles of shoreline, over 100,000 privately owned boats, and weather that allows for boating activities year round. Unfortunately, this also means that this state has some of the highest rates of boating accidents in the nation. There are typically over 60 boating related deaths and 370 injuries per year. If you have been injured in a Fort Lauderdale boating accident, it is important to know the law and your rights.

The most common type of boating injury involves personal watercraft. This includes motorboats, sailboats, ski-doos, wave-runners, and jet-skis. Many people do not realize that there are laws governing the correct use and operation of personal watercraft, much as there are laws governing traffic on land. An operator of a watercraft is required to act in such a way as to preserve the safety and well being of others in the area, a term known as reasonable care. There are also laws against operating a boat while intoxicated and there are speed limits and lane requirements that must be obeyed. Since it is not on land and boats are considered pleasure craft, many people do not obey these laws, putting themselves and those around them at risk for injury or wrongful death.

There are many actions that can result in a boating accident. Some of the most common are intoxication, high speeds, disobeying the rules of the water, and recklessness or inexperience on the part of the operator. The most common type of boating accident is collision with another watercraft. Collisions with swimmers and sinking due to operator error or inattention are also known to occur. If you are involved with a boating accident, you may want to take pictures of the scene. Take pictures of damage to the boat and any injuries you or others have sustained before leaving the area. Pictures are a very clarifying form of documentation and can greatly aid any legal proceedings that may come as a result of the boating accident.

Private boating is not the only type of Fort Lauderdale boating accident. Commercial ships, such as cruise lines can also lead to nautical injuries. Hundreds of cruise ships dock in Florida each year and these ships are required to take reasonable care of their passengers. Since cruise ships sail for days and sometimes weeks at a time, there are a number of different types of injury’s that can occur while at sea.

Slip and falls are among the most common injuries on commercial vessels. On smaller vessels, such as fishing or tour boats, this may be as a result of the boat pitching or the driver accelerating or turning too quickly without warning others on board. On larger cruise ships, slip and falls may occur as a result of moisture on deck that was not properly labeled to warn passengers. Occasionally a commercial vessel will be involved in a collision with another vessel or may run aground due to improper navigating. In either case, the impact may cause a passenger to fall and become injured.

Cruise ships are also responsible for taking reasonable security measures to protect their passengers. If there are assaults on board, including sexual assaults, the cruise line may carry some liability. The company is required to take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of those on board, including both passengers and employees.

If you have been injured in any type of Fort Lauderdale boating accident, there are a number of actions you can take to ensure the best outcome. First, take pictures of the accident site and any injuries or damages that have been sustained. If anyone witnesses the accident, it may be helpful to ask them for their contact information. Be sure to keep records and receipts of any medical attention you receive or repairs you have performed on your personal property. If the incident occurred on a cruise ship, request a copy of the incident report that is filed regarding your case. If you are assaulted, you have the right to file a police report and should do so, even if you are not sure that you want to press charges at the time. If your accident occurred due to unsafe conditions on the ship, keep in mind any others who have been injured due to the same situation. Be aware that in most cases a suit must be filed within one year of the incident.

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Sheldon J. Schlesinger, P.A. represents clients throughout the state of Florida including the cities of Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Carol City, Cooper City, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Miramar, Miami, Miami Beach, Oakland Park, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Pompano Beach, and Rivera Beach

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