What Type of Report Must Be Filed if There Is an Accident While Boating?
Knowing the right reports to file after boating accidents is important. Otherwise, your accident could go undocumented, making it harder to get the compensation you need from a liable party.
Your first call after a boating accident should be to your local police department or other authority responsible for handling such incidents in your state. Our lawyers can ensure you satisfy all necessary reporting requirements so that you do not unintentionally harm your claim before it has begun. When you radio for help or call 911 to report an accident, you can document any property damage to your vessel and injuries to your person. When reviewing reports, we may identify witnesses to interview and possible contributing causes so that we can properly prepare for your compensation claim after a boating accident.
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind at (305) 204-5369 today to get help with your case from our boating accident lawyers.
What Types of Reports Do You Have to File After a Boating Accident??
Different states have different reporting procedures for boating accidents. In Florida, where recreational boat accidents and injuries are relatively common, involved parties must report to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) and the local police department.
Other states have their own agencies and authorities that handle boating accident reports. When accidents result in injury, death, or substantial property damage, involved parties may be required to inform these agencies by law.
Victims might have more time to report boating accidents to agencies like the FFWCC, though they might have to radio or alert emergency services more immediately. For example, involved parties may call their local police department or other rescue services, particularly if a victim has fallen overboard, disappeared, or suffered a serious head injury that requires immediate medical attention.
In addition to confirming all reporting requirements for your recent incident, our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers can obtain finalized copies of completed reports from police departments and other agencies. This can help us build the foundation of your case, particularly identifying who is liable for your injuries and why.
Failure to report a boating accident when necessary could lead to insufficient documentation of the event for insurance purposes and if your damages warrant civil litigation. Our attorneys can help victims navigate some of the more challenging aspects of boating accident claims, like reporting accidents involving recreational boaters they may know personally, so they get the compensation they deserve after suffering injuries due to negligence.
Why Do You Need to File a Report After Being Injured in a Boating Accident?
Reporting an accident to the appropriate authorities, such as local law enforcement, can ensure that you properly document it, preserve important information and evidence, confirm that you were injured at the scene, and help our attorneys identify eyewitnesses and others to interview in preparation for your compensation claim.
To Document Property Damage
Collisions between vessels could result in serious property damage to a victim’s boat in addition to harmful physical injuries. Many states require victims to report boating accidents that exceed certain property damage thresholds. For example, Florida requires reporting when property damage exceeds $2,000, which is relatively low for boating accidents. When you involve the authorities, they may arrange for your damaged boat to be brought to shore. After this point, we may have experts assess the property damage to estimate its value and gain deeper insight into the accident and its cause.
To Document Your Injuries
When emergency response services arrive at a boating accident scene, whether to rescue a victim, give them medical care, or help process the site, they will note if the victim is injured and, if so, how badly. Resulting incident reports may indicate if victims needed urgent medical attention before leaving the location or had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance or by other means. The accident report alone is insufficient to prove your injuries, so following all parts of the treatment plan doctors give you is crucial. We can use your medical records to show your exact diagnoses, treatments from specialists, and upcoming care you may need in the future. When speaking to emergency response services or filing a report in the days following the accident, be honest about the extent of your injuries, as downplaying them could undermine your future compensation claim.
To Rule Out Contributing Causes
When authorities respond to calls for boating accidents, they may speak to involved parties and witnesses, observe property damage, and note weather and water conditions to identify possible contributing causes. Such impressions included in accident reports could inform how our lawyers progress with investigations, who we speak to and interview, and who we ultimately seek compensation against in your boating accident lawsuit. Even if poor weather contributed to the accident, the defendant might be fully liable if they did not adapt their behavior and maintain a proper lookout because of the poor conditions.
To Identify Eyewitnesses
In boating accidents, whether victims slip and fall on slick decks, are knocked overboard and unconscious, or are caught between boats while swimming, they might struggle to recall certain important details. This is where eyewitness statements can be especially useful, as witnesses may view accidents from different angles or observe certain conduct that victims do not see themselves. When emergency response services arrive to help victims, they may also talk to witnesses, whether they were on the same vessel or a different boat nearby. You could very well still be in the hospital when our lawyers obtain and review incident reports on your behalf. We can promptly schedule eyewitness interviews during this time so your case is not unnecessarily delayed.
Call Our Lawyers to Discuss Your Recent Boating Accident
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind’s Miami boating accident lawyers at (305) 204-5369 for a free case analysis.
