Tour Boat Accidents

Given South Florida’s beautiful oceans and beaches, as well as the Intercoastal, Everglades, and other waterways, jet skis, yachts, and tour boats are a popular way for tourists and visitors to explore the area. However, if an accident occurs on a tour boat, or as a result of a tour boat colliding with another vessel, dock, peer, buoy, or other object in the water, serious injuries can result. Tour boat owners and operators have a duty to keep passengers reasonably safe from harm, and when they fail to fulfill that duty, they should be held accountable. Miami boat accident attorney Robert Dixon of the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assists victims injured on tour boats and in other accidents involving watercraft with bringing legal claims against those responsible for their harm. If you’ve been injured on a tour boat in or near Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, or elsewhere in South Florida, Robert Dixon and his staff are available to discuss what legal action might be available to you. Contact our office to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to find out more about our services.

Tour boat accidents can occur as a result of a number of situations. Passengers on a boat can slip as a result of a wet deck, or trip and fall due to walkways that are cluttered or cargo that has been left unsecured. In addition, if a passenger is too intoxicated, he or she can get hurt on board, or fall overboard as well. Tour boat owners and operators, as common carriers, are required to exercise the highest level of care with regard to passengers, including conducting routine maintenance of their vessels and making sure their crews are adequately trained. Safety precautions include ensuring there is a flotation device available for each passenger, as well as making sure the boat is in seaworthy condition. If you’ve been injured in a tour boat accident, different parties may be liable for causing your harm. Cases arising from these incidents can involve complicated legal issues, and it is advisable to consult a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible following your injury.

Accidents that occur on public waterways can fall into federal maritime jurisdiction, which could require cases to be brought in federal court. This means that different laws and procedures may apply to cases arising out of injuries sustained due to a tour boat or cruise accident, and it is important to have a seasoned lawyer who knows what those laws are and how they work. In many cases, a tour boat accident occurs as a result of a boat’s owner, operator, or crew acting negligently in some way. Negligence occurs when a party breaches the duty of reasonable care owed to another, causing the other’s injury, and resulting in damages. For example, if a captain fails to operate the boat safely in rough waters, or skips routine maintenance and an unrepaired part causes an accident, the negligent parties can be held accountable. Once negligence is shown, victims can receive compensation for past and future medical costs, loss of income and earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering damages. If a victim is fatally injured, family members may be entitled to receive compensation for loss of consortium as well as burial or funeral costs by pursuing a wrongful death suit.

Injuries sustained as a result of a tour boat accident can include broken bones and fractures, head and brain trauma, as well as spinal injuries. Aside from being painful, these serious injuries can be quite costly. Robert Dixon and the seasoned lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon offer dedicated legal support to victims and families who have lost loved ones in tragic boating accidents. Our firm has vast experience with these complex cases, and can help investigate the circumstances leading up to a tour boat accident, as well as aggressively pursue legal action against the at-fault parties. Please call 877.499.4878 or contact our office online today to speak with an attorney and set up a free, no obligation consultation to learn more about your legal options. We serve clients in communities including Miami, and West Palm Beach.