Florida Lawyer for Boat Accidents Caused by Rocks + Pier Crashes
Florida is the state with the highest incident of boat accidents in the country. Many injuries each year are caused by boat operators striking stationary objects that they do not see. With large ships like yachts, ferries, or commercial ships, the injuries are often mitigated because the ship is too large to be rocked enough to cause injury. However, for smaller yachts, speed boats, and fishing boats, striking a rock, dock, or pier could cause serious injuries, cause the vessel to capsize or sink, and lead to additional injuries if passengers fall overboard.
If you or a loved one was injured in a boat crash in Florida caused by a crash into rocks or a pier, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. Our Florida boat accident lawyer caused by rocks and pier crashes represents injured boating accident victims and their families and work to seek compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We can help you sue the responsible boat operators and boating companies to get the compensation you deserve. For a free legal consultation, call us today at (866) 386-1762.
Causes of Boat Accidents Caused by Pier and Rock Crashes in Florida
If you were a passenger on a boat, you usually trust that the pilot and the captain know what they are doing. If the vessel crashes into a pier when docking or crashes into rocks while cruising along, this usually means that someone did something wrong. The causes of these kinds of accidents are usually attributable to errors in operating the boat, but some accidents could be caused by other issues.
In most cases where a boat crashes into something stationary, it is because the boat operator misjudged their speed or the size of their vessel. This could be due to problems with visibility if the captain took the boat out in dangerous weather – but that is also an error in judgment that likely should have been avoided. These issues could also be due to faulty speed gauges or other equipment on the boat, but it is more likely that this is purely a matter of captain error or inexperienced boating.
In some cases where the pilot hits rocks, this could be because they were unfamiliar with the waters. This is often a difficult kind of case because any experienced boater might have made the same mistakes, and it might not have been an avoidable crash. However, if the pilot was familiar with those waters or ignored signs or navigational charts that would have notified the pilot that those waters were shallow or rocky, this mistake could rest squarely with the boat operator.
Suing for Boat Accidents Involving Rock Crashes and Pier Crashes in Florida
When you are injured in an accident you are typically allowed to sue the person responsible for the crash. In a boat accident, this usually means you can sue the boat operator as an individual. If the boat was a yacht or a party boat that had multiple crew members operating it, you can usually sue the captain or the skipper since they were the one responsible for overseeing everything.
Similarly, if the boat you were injured on was a tour boat, a ferry, or some other kind of boat for hire, you can often sue the company that owns and operates the vessel. They are usually responsible for their crew and captains and the training that they have, and they can typically be held responsible as the employer of the individual crew member who made the mistakes that injured you. For cruise ships that crash into the pier, this can often mean suing the cruise company.
When you file a lawsuit for injuries in a boat accident, you must prove that the defendant was actually the one at fault for the crash. This typically means pointing to mistakes or errors that they committed that involved unreasonable lapses in judgment or safety errors. Often, the fact that they crashed into a pier or hit rocks is not by itself evidence that they were negligent. Instead, your lawyer will need to prove that the mistakes they made were unreasonable and that other boat operators with similar training or experience would have avoided making the same mistakes.
Damages for Pier Crashes and Rock Crashes on Boats in Florida
If you were seriously injured in a boat accident, you might be entitled to substantial financial compensation. The damages that you can claim in a lawsuit against the negligent boat operator and their employer will usually depend on what specific damages and injuries you faced in your case. This means totaling up the cost of any medical expenses the injury caused you, examining how the injuries will affect your income and earning capacity, and evaluating the pain and suffering you experienced.
The cost of economic damages like medical bills and lost wages can be calculated by looking at bills, pay stubs, bank statements, and other financial records. The cost of pain and suffering damages is usually calculated by looking at how the injury affected your life and your enjoyment of it. These damages also generally correlate to the severity of your injury, so that more severe injuries receive higher pain and suffering damages, on average. However, permanent injuries and disabilities might receive higher damages even if the injury does not appear as severe, such as in cases of whiplash or back injuries.
Call Our Florida Boat Accident Lawyer for Pier and Rock Crash Cases
If you were on a boat and you were injured in a crash with a pier or rock, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. Our Florida lawyer for boat accidents caused by rocks and pier crashes might be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you deserve after facing serious injuries. For a free legal consultation on your potential case, call our lawyers today at (866) 386-1762.
