Florida is surrounded by water, and is home to various lakes as well as intercoastal waterways, where local residents and tourists enjoy a wide variety of boating activities. This large number of boat passengers means that there is a greater risk that a boating accident may occur. These accidents come in various forms, from collisions between two vessels to slip-and-fall accidents onboard. If you’ve been hurt or a loved one has died under these kinds of circumstances, you may be entitled to damages in a boat accident case, and the team at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you determine what your legal options are. We assist clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties with investigation into the cause of an accident, identifying the responsible parties, gathering evidence, and evaluating each claim to ensure victims’ legal rights are protected and properly advocated for. Miami boat accident lawyer Robert Dixon represents injured victims and families throughout South Florida. If you have questions regarding your legal rights, contact our office to set up a free, no obligation consultation.
Liability for Boat Accident InjuriesFor a victim who has been hurt or family who has lost a loved one in a boat accident to be awarded compensation, it must first be shown that a defendant or defendants were negligent. Negligence involves a party’s breach of reasonable care owed to another person, which causes that person’s injury or death, and therefore results in damages. Boat operators, owners, staff, and others have a duty to maintain a vessel in a way that ensures the safety of passengers, as well as a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would in their jobs or certain situations. Breaches of these duties that could lead to injuries, and indicate negligence, include failure to warn boat occupants of dangerous areas, a boat operator being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or lack of proper safety equipment on board. Once negligence is established, victims may be awarded damages for various costs associated with their harm.
Damages in Boat Accident CasesWhen a victim is involved in a boat accident, they may sustain injuries such as head or brain trauma, broken bones, internal bleeding, and even paralysis or amputations. Costs related to these types of injuries can become exponential and go well beyond any insurance policy benefits that may apply. As such, victims of these accidents may need to seek compensation through a lawsuit, and a knowledgeable boat accident attorney can help.
Generally, plaintiffs can be awarded both economic and noneconomic damages in boat accident cases. Economic damages refer to those costs that are more easily verifiable numerically, such as past medical expenses related to hospital stays, doctor visits, any rehabilitation, and other related expenses. Anticipated medical costs associated with a victim’s injuries can also be calculated based on medical expert testimony and evidence related to the general costs of care for the type of injury sustained. Lost income due to time missed from work as well as any changes to a victim’s ability to work in the future are also quantifiable economic damages. In wrongful death lawsuits, economic damages include burial or funeral costs and any remaining medical bills that relate to the injuries that resulted in the victim’s death. Non-economic damages refer to the less verifiable costs such as those that involve pain and suffering or loss of support of a deceased loved one.
Miami Lawyers Assisting Boat Accident VictimsWhen a boat accident is caused by another’s negligent acts, victims and families who have lost loved ones may be entitled to financial compensation. Attorney Robert Dixon is dedicated to making sure these victims pursue the financial aid they need to get through such a difficult time. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a fatality as a result of an accident on the water, please call the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at (877) 499-4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to find out more about how we can help. We represent clients in areas including Miami, and West Palm Beach.