Would you be surprised to know that Florida has more boating accidents than any other state in the United States? In many cases, these accidents are the direct result of people not understanding the rules of the road, or underestimating how dangerous watercraft can be.
Florida doesn’t require any type of boating or yachting instruction, unless the operator is under a certain age or the vessel exceeds a specific length. As a result, many people are behind the wheel of a watercraft who don’t have any experience.
Many people don’t know enough about safety precautions
In addition to not knowing how to operate the boat, many don’t know how to avoid or reduce the chance of boating injuries. For example, they may not wear a lifejacket, or may not install a kill switch that turns off the boat’s engine if the wearer is thrown from the station.
We may be able to help you if you’ve suffered an injury in a boating accident
It’s often the case that someone is responsible for a boating accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident on the water then you should call Gilbert and Smallman to get your free case evaluation. We may be able to help with all manner of accidents and injuries, including those that involve personal watercrafts like wave runners and jet skis, tenders, yachts, go-fast boats, air boats, canoes, and other types of boats.
Situations in which the operator may be responsible
It’s common for people to assume that they took on some manner of risk when they get on the water. This may be true, but it doesn’t prevent some people from being responsible. Some common situations in which the operator of the boat can be held responsible including hitting a large wave at an unsafe speed and / or angle, coming into contact with propellers, not keeping a lookout, colliding with other watercraft, or overcrowding or overloading the craft.
Call today to learn more about the damages you may be eligible for
The reality is that injuries sustained on boats can be serious – and even life threatening. Whether your injury involved a broken bone, spinal injury, or any other type of consequence, someone else may be responsible for both economic and non-economic damages. Reach out to Gilbert and Smallman today to get a free case evaluation and find out what your options are.
