Intracoastal Waterway Boat Accident Attorney
The Intracoastal Waterway knits the City of Miami together. Millions of people take advantage of these waterways for travel, recreation, and even commerce. However, the number of boats in tight quarters on Miami’s intracoastal waters often lead to boat accidents, just like how highways and tight city streets lead to car accidents.
If you faced serious injuries in a boat accident in Miami’s intracoastal waters, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today to talk about your case. Our Intracoastal Waterway boat accident attorneys represent people throughout Miami and tourists or visitors to the area who were injured in boating accidents in the intracoastal waters. For a free consultation on your potential case and more information about what to do next, call our attorneys at (866) 386-1762.
What to Do After a Boat Accident in Miami’s Intracoastal Waterways
The Intracoastal Waterway throughout Miami are unique in the U.S., with very few cities having this level of boat travel within the borders of the city. As such, there are many more boat accidents in Miami than in most other places in the country. Boaters and tourists in Miami should take certain steps after being involved in an accident to help them get the treatment they need and build a case for a potential lawsuit or insurance claim.
After a boat crash between the boat you were on and a stationary object, like the side of the canal, you could face serious injuries. Get to a hospital and get treatment if you need it. Additionally, take pictures, get witness statements, and get the contact info and boating license info for the operator so you know who to hold responsible. If the accident involved two or more boats, get the same information from all boat operators and witnesses on other boats as well.
If you need to, go to the hospital right away to seek medical attention. Some injuries, especially back and head injuries, are not very obvious and could require intensive care or even result in death if not treated promptly. Other injuries might also be masked by adrenaline, but you could need painkillers and medical attention after the effects wear off, especially if you find that you have broken bones or serious wounds that the fight or flight response dulled.
You should also talk to a lawyer after a boating accident. The help of an experienced attorney can be invaluable in helping protect your rights and getting you the help you need after a crash.
Hiring a Boat Accident Lawyer After an Intracoastal Waterway Accident in Miami
If you were injured in a boating accident in the Intracoastal Waterway in Miami, you should work with an attorney on your case. Many at-fault boaters are represented by insurance companies that seek to shut down claims and fight to lower the payouts that victims receive. Even if they do not have insurance, they might hire their own attorney to try to defend them against any claims of wrongdoing. When faced with a strong legal team in your case, you’ll need a strong legal team of your own.
Your lawyer can help collect evidence and build a case to prove damages. Your lawyer can also help calculate damages in your case and help you understand what your case should be worth. If the other side has not offered to pay for those damages in full, your lawyer can negotiate with counsel and fight to drive up the payout to get you the damages you need. If the other side refuses to pay you a fair settlement or insurance payout, our lawyers can also take the case to trial before a judge and jury to get you the damages you deserve.
What is a Boat Accident Case Worth in Miami’s Intracoastal Waterways?
Boat accidents in the intracoastal waters and canals in Miami do not often occur at high speed unless someone was showing off or violating local boating laws. However, these accidents can still cause serious injuries, especially if the victim suffered a head injury or fell into the water. Accidents can also be fatal if the victim drowns. In all of these cases, there are many areas of damage you could be entitled to compensation for.
First, any financial harms you face because of the boat accident can be claimed. This could include medical bills, any missed wages from missed work, property damage you incurred in a crash, and any other expenses you have to pay because of the accident.
Second, you can claim damages for the intangible harms that you face. Although no one can see your pain and put a price tag on it, courts can compensate victims of boating accidents for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress after an accident, especially one where physical injuries were involved.
Lastly, if a loved one was killed in the accident or because they drowned after the accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your loss. A human life cannot have a price put on it, but the family of a deceased intracoastal boating accident victim can claim damages for their family’s expenses related to the death, including burial costs. They can also claim damages for lost wages, medical bills, end of life pain and suffering, and other damages related to the victim’s injuries and eventual death. They can also claim damages they face going forward, such as lost household income and the expense of child care, household tasks, and other needs.
Call Our Miami Intracoastal Waterway Boating Accident Attorneys for Help with Your Case
If you were involved in an accident in Miami’s Intracoastal Waterway or canals, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind today. Our Florida boat accident attorneys represent injury victims and their families, and we fight to get them the compensation they deserve. We will help fight low-ball settlement offers and unfair insurance decisions to help you and your loved ones get the financial support you need after a serious accident or injuries. To set up a free legal consultation with our lawyers, call our office at (866) 386-1762.
