Will Homeowners Insurance Cover a Boating Accident?
When buying a home, people must think about what kind of homeowners insurance they need. Homeowners insurance is not necessarily required by law. This kind of insurance can cover a lot or a little, depending on your needs. One of those needs may be related to your boat. In Florida, we see our fair share of boating accidents and mishaps. As with any accident on land or sea, the issue of insurance coverage will come up. Keep reading to learn about how your homeowners insurance may cover your boat from the skilled Florida boating accident attorneys and Florida yacht accident lawyer at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A.
How Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover My Boat?
In certain circumstances, depending on the type of insurance you have, your homeowners insurance may cover accidents or other issues related to your boat. However, this kind of coverage tends to be very limited and may not cover boating accidents. If boating accidents are covered, the type of boat you have may affect your coverage.
Your homeowners insurance may cover damage to your boat related to weather, theft, or vandalism. This coverage will likely be very limited and apply only under specific circumstances. In some cases, the deductible you have to pay will be almost as much as the coverage, so it does not make a lot of sense to file an insurance claim. Luckily, depending on your situation, the liability coverage associated with your home might be applied to boating accidents.
Whether or not your homeowner’s liability coverage extends to a boat accident will be determined by the size and power of your boat. Boats with inboard and outboard motors may be treated differently. Also, your homeowners insurance is more likely to cover a smaller boat than a larger one. The exact horsepower and size requirements will vary depending on what kind of homeowners insurance you have. However, it is safe to say that smaller boats used for recreational purposes are more likely to be covered than larger boats or boats used commercially.
The extent to which your homeowners insurance covers your boat and any boating accidents will depend on your specific insurance policy. It is possible that you could have more coverage than discussed above. You might also have no coverage at all. It is best to speak with an insurance agent and our Miami boat accident attorney and Miami yacht accident lawyer for help.
What Kind of Insurance Should I Have for My Boat?
What kind of insurance you should have will depend on what type of boat you have and how you use it. Insurance requirements will vary depending on whether you use your boat for personal enjoyment or commercial purposes. If you use your boat for commercial or business purposes, the type of business you conduct will also influence the kind of insurance you need.
It is difficult to say what kind of insurance is exactly right for you without a professional consultation. However, you might want to consider insurance that covers accidents as well as theft or vandalism. Insurance that also covers property on board the boat in addition to the boat itself may also be something to look into. If you plan to take any passengers aboard, you may also want to look at liability insurance if someone is injured on your boat. To get a better idea of what kind of insurance you need, speak with our Gulf Coast boat accident attorneys.
Am I Legally Required to Have Insurance for My Boat?
Vehicles like cars and trucks are required by law to be insured. However, not every state requires the same for boats. In Florida, boat insurance is not mandatory. However, it is highly recommended as so many people own and operate boats within the state and along its coasts.
For people who are boating enthusiasts and enjoy boats for purely recreational purposes, insurance is not required. While insurance is certainly an option, whether or not you need it is entirely up to you. If you take your boat out only a few times a year or only on special occasions, maybe insurance is not as necessary. However, if you are a more frequent boater, insurance may be a smart idea.
Insurance for boats used for business or commercial purposes is a different story. Many kinds of businesses are required to have certain types of insurance, depending on the business they conduct. A boat owner who takes on passengers will almost certainly be required to have some insurance. Consult with our Everglades boat accident attorney to figure out if you need insurance for your boat.
What If I’m in a Boat Accident with No Insurance?
If you are in an accident with another boat, or if you crash your boat into something stationary like a dock or a jetty, insurance can help you cover the costs of any injuries. However, if you do not have insurance, you may have to pay these expenses out of pocket. Consult with our Port of Miami accident and injury lawyer for free consultation.
The damages you might be required to pay will depend on the nature of the accident and the extent of the injuries. If you are in a collision with another boat and are at fault, you may have to pay for the physical injuries of any passengers on both boats and the property damage caused to the boats. Even if you are in a single-vehicle accident, like striking a dock or a jetty, you may have to cover the costs of injuries of any of your own passengers. You may also have to pay for repairs to the structure you hit.
Call Our Florida Boat Accident Attorney for a Consultation
If you have been in a boating accident in Miami and are uninsured or do not know if your insurance will cover everything, please reach out to our Miami maritime injury attorneys. Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (866) 386-1762 and ask about a free consultation.
