When Must a Boating Accident Be Reported in Florida?
Boating accidents can cause serious damage to people and property. If you were recently injured in a boating accident in Florida, you may be required to report your collision to the authorities. If you don’t, getting the justice you deserve can be more challenging.
Generally, all boating accidents must be reported to Florida police offices or the Division of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. If you sustained injuries in a boating accident, it becomes even more important to file a report. Reporting an accident as quickly as possible is crucial so law enforcement officials can document your injuries and their cause. If you don’t report a boating accident, you may have difficulty recovering compensation for your injuries or property damage in Florida.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping boating accident victims throughout Florida hold negligent parties accountable. For a free case evaluation with the Florida boating accident lawyers at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A., call today at (305) 204-5369.
What Types of Boating Accidents Must Be Reported in Florida?
Boating accidents are serious. Regardless of the circumstance, boating accidents can result in devastating injuries to victims. Because of that, Florida has strict rules regarding which types of boating accidents must be reported to the authorities.
If you were recently injured in a boating accident in Florida, you may be wondering whether or not you should have reported it to local law enforcement. Or perhaps you own a boat and wish to be prepared should disaster strike. Regardless, it is important to know what boating accidents must be reported in Florida. The following are just some of the most common boating accidents in Florida that must be reported to the law enforcement agencies:
- Collisions
- Deaths
- Disappearances
- Drownings
- Injuries
- Property damage
Any boating accidents involving a collision between two vessels or a vessel and an object must be reported. Such collisions can cause a boat to capsize, which could cause victims to drown or sustain serious injuries. Other boating accidents have to do with negligence on deck. The bottom line is that any boating incident that involves injury, death, or disappearance must be reported to the law enforcement officials in Florida. Suppose you or a loved one are injured in a boating accident and fail to report it when necessary. In that case, you may have difficulty recovering the damages you deserve against a negligent party.
How Soon After a Florida Boating Accident Do You Have to Report It?
Since boating accidents in Florida can be so damaging, it is important that victims report incidents to the necessary agents as soon as possible. Generally, participants in a boating accident are required to report their injuries or damages within a few days of an incident.
According to Florida Statute § 327.30, the operator of a boat involved in an accident involving death, disappearance, injury, capsizing, or collision, to name a few instances, must report it to the necessary agencies as soon as possible. Florida doesn’t prescribe a specific timeframe for pilots or other victims to report to law enforcement officials, as it is not always possible for boating vessels to communicate with land-bound agencies or reach the shore quickly after an accident. That said, federal law requires individuals to report a boating accident within five days if death, injury, or disappearance occurs.
Although boating accidents are rarely insignificant, victims may still believe there is no reason to alert law enforcement officials. However, if you are required to report an accident because of the severity of your injuries, and you don’t, you can face a serious fine.
Which Agencies Do I Have to Report My Florida Boating Accident To?
After a boating accident in Florida, you may feel as though it’s important to alert the necessary parties, but you may be unsure which agencies you have to speak to. Knowing who to report your boating accident to is just as important as knowing that you have to report it at all.
In Florida, boating accident victims can report an incident to one of three parties. Victims can report to the Division of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the local sheriff or police department. Regardless of which party you choose to report your boating accident to, you don’t have to do it alone. An experienced Miami boating accident lawyer can help you accurately and thoroughly report your injuries to the necessary parties.
Victims only have to report a boating accident to one of the three agencies. There’s no need to report your boating accident multiple times. Once you report your injuries and officers document the collision events, you’ll have completed your responsibility.
Why is it Important to Report a Boating Accident in Florida?
Reporting a boating accident as soon as possible after it occurs is crucial for Florida victims. If you fail to report or don’t do so soon enough, you can have much more difficulty recovering sufficient damages in a lawsuit for compensation.
Boating accident lawsuits can be difficult to litigate. There aren’t always unbiased eyewitnesses in the area when these incidents occur. There is rarely security camera footage of collisions. Boating accidents often happen in remote areas, which can present challenges. That is why reporting, and doing so quickly, is important.
The sooner you report your boating accident to law enforcement officials, the better your chances of recovering sufficient damages will be. Police officers and your Jacksonville boating accident lawyer can investigate your incident and uncover evidence supporting your case. Reporting can also be vital for the success of insurance claims and lawsuits.
If you don’t report your accident to the necessary agencies, it may be more difficult to recover compensation against a defendant in a Florida lawsuit. So, always report a boating accident, regardless of its severity, and ask your Florida boating accident lawyer for help holding a negligent party accountable.
Call Our Florida Lawyers After Your Boating Accident
If you were recently injured in a boating accident in Florida, our attorneys can help. For a free case evaluation with the Tampa boating accident lawyers at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A., call today at (305) 204-5369.
