Miami Attorney for Slip and Fall Injury on a Boat
Boats can be a lot of fun when you vacation by the beach or on the lake. However, boats are dangerous if the people in charge are negligent, and a slip and fall accident might lead to severe injuries.
Boats are inherently unsteady vessels. They rock and sway with the movement and currents of the water. Slip and fall injuries might strike at almost anytime on a boat. Many people have fallen on wet floors because boat operators did not clean them up. Slip and fall injuries are especially dangerous because accident victims might fall into the water and drown. Several parties could be liable for the accident, including the person operating the boat, the owner of the boat, or a third party in the event of a collision. You can begin your case by collecting evidence of the accident. If successful, you can recover damages related to economic and non-economic injuries.
Slip and fall accidents can be incredibly dangerous on boats. If you were injured in such an incident, our attorneys for slip and fall injuries on boats can help you. For a free case review, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (305) 204-5369.
How Slip and Fall Injuries Might Happen on a Boat
Slip and fall accidents are fairly common on boats, considering the vessels tend to be unsteady on the water. Boats are often so unsteady that many passengers get seasick. A wet floor is a common cause of slip and fall injuries on boats. It is only natural that the boat’s deck gets a little wet when you are out on the water. If the water is not cleaned up by deckhands or crew members, you might slip and injure yourself.
A slip and fall injury might also stem from the equipment on the vessel. Boats, especially larger vessels, require a lot of equipment on board to operate safely. If this equipment is not put away properly, passengers might slip or trip over it and become seriously injured. Our attorneys for slip and fall injuries on boats can help you determine how your accident happened.
Rough water is another significant contributing factor to slip and fall cases. If weather conditions are less than ideal and the water is rough or choppy, the boat operator must take precautions to ensure passenger safety. This might involve operating the boat at a slower speed or anchoring in a safe place until conditions improve. A negligent boat operator might cause passengers to fall while navigating rough waters.
Liability for a Slip and Fall Accident on a Boat in Miami
Another significant issue in slip and fall injuries on boats is determining who should be held liable. There are numerous parties involved in the operation of a boat. From captains to the crew to owners, there are multiple parties involved. It is normal for plaintiffs to be unsure exactly who is responsible for their injuries. Our lawyers for slip and fall injuries on boats can help you figure out who was negligent.
One party we must consider when determining who should be held liable is the boat’s operator. In many cases, the plaintiff was on vacation and chartered a boat operated by a supposedly competent captain. Unfortunately, these boat “captains” are not always as capable as they might appear, and their negligent operation of the vessel leads to injuries. If the operator fails to keep the boat safe, they might be liable for a subsequent slip and fall injury.
Alternatively, the owner of the boat might be liable. Many people rent boats without a captain because they plan to operate the vessel themselves. If the boat is in an unsafe, unclean, or otherwise dangerous condition when it is delivered to you, the owner might be liable for any injuries onboard. For example, if the owner delivered the boat to you with a deck full of dents and holes, they can be held liable if someone fell.
It is worth noting that injuries from slip and fall accidents on boats can be severe. Passengers might hit their heads on the deck and suffer brain damage. In other cases, the boat is very far from sure, and injured passengers cannot get to shore in time to receive treatment. Additionally, a passenger might slip and fall overboard and drown.
Gathering Evidence of Slip and Fall Injuries on Boats
To win your lawsuit, you must have evidence. The evidence should show that the defendant’s actions were negligent and that their negligence is the direct cause of the slip and fall accident. What kind of evidence you need depends on how your accident happened and who we believe should be held liable. Our lawyers for slip and fall injuries on boats can help you collect the evidence you need to get compensation.
One important way to preserve evidence is to take photos and record videos of the scene immediately after the fall. If there is any debris on the deck of the boat (e.g., water, equipment, damage), it might be cleaned up or repaired before we can properly document the evidence for legal purposes. Your photos help to preserve the scene of the accident. Similarly, videos can help prove the weather conditions on the day of the incident if the weather and rough waters are relevant factors.
Your medical records are necessary to establish the extent, severity, and cause of your injuries. Not only does this help us prove that you were injured because of the defendant’s negligence, but it can also help us establish the value of your medical bills and economic damages. Your doctor may be called as an expert witness to explain the details of your medical records and offer their opinion on how the accident occurred.
Call Our Attorneys for Slip and Fall Injuries on Boats in Miami
Boating can be a lot of fun, but it can be a disaster if certain people are negligent. Our Attorneys for slip and fall injuries on boats are prepared to help you get compensation for your injuries and pain. For a free case review, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (305) 204-5369.
