Boat Accident Attorney in Orlando

There are many different types of boating accidents. Your ability to recover financial compensation following an injury will depend, in part, on the type of accident in which you were involved.  

Some of the most common types of boat accidents include:

Collisions Caused by Another Boat Operator

Many boat mishaps are the result of another boat driver operating their vessel in a negligent manner. Boat drivers have an implied duty to behave in a reasonably safe way. 

The claims that result from this type of boat accident are similar to car accident cases. When someone’s negligence causes another person to experience property damage or injuries, the victim may have grounds for a valid legal claim. 

Common factors that result in these boat collisions include: 

• Aggressive boating maneuvers
• Operating a vessel while distracted
• Driving while intoxicated
• Operating a vessel while drowsy or sleep-deprived

It can be difficult to prove that the at-fault party was behaving negligently at the time of a collision. As such, it’s important to consult the expertise of accomplished boat accident lawyers in Orlando.

Boating Accidents Causing Injury to Passengers

If you’re a passenger on a boat, the pilot has a responsibility to drive in a safe manner. Boat operators are expected to drive safely to prevent their passengers from sustaining injuries. 

You may be eligible for financial recovery when you’re injured on a boat that another person is driving. Our boat accident lawyers in Orlando can determine who is legally liable for the harm you’ve sustained. 

If another passenger’s behavior resulted in the accident, you might be able to file a claim against them. The knowledgeable legal team at Morgan and Morgan will assess the facts of your claim and push to hold the at-fault party or parties accountable. 

Workplace Boat Injuries

Employees working on or around boats may sustain injuries while on the job. If you’ve been injured while performing your job, you may qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

This type of payment is meant to cover the direct monetary losses resulting from the worker’s injuries. You’re strongly encouraged to pursue a workers’ compensation claim in the aftermath of a workplace injury. 

Most employees injured in the workplace aren’t permitted to file personal injury claims against their employers. However, if a third party is solely or partially responsible for your accident or injury, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them. 

Mishaps Caused by Defective Boat Components

In some cases, a defective component of a craft may result in an accident or injury. It can be particularly difficult to determine liability when a defective part is to blame. 

Even if the driver and passengers behave reasonably safely, defective components can make boating hazardous. To complicate matters further, faulty parts may be the result of either a design or manufacturing defect.

Defective boat parts may cause accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries. Boat manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure that their products are reasonably safe and free of defects. 

You may be able to file a successful product liability claim following this type of boat accident. Work with a team of skilled boat accident lawyers in Orlando to recover the compensation you deserve.

Injury victims often feel overwhelmed in the days and weeks following a serious boating accident. Healing from an injury can take a tremendous amount of time, effort, and money, and pursuing financial compensation after an Orlando boating accident requires significant legal experience and specialized knowledge.

Boat accident victims shouldn’t have to manage the complex procedures of filing a civil legal claim on their own. Morgan & Morgan’s accomplished Orlando attorneys will oversee all of the technicalities of your legal claim, including:

• Securing relevant evidence and information
• Obtaining accident reports and medical records
• Speaking with eyewitnesses
• Consulting with experts or specialists, if necessary
• Determining relevant maritime statutes
• Meeting all legally required deadlines
• Drafting and filing the necessary paperwork
• Accurately calculating the total value of your boat accident claim
• Determining which party or parties are legally liable
• Negotiating with the opposing party or their insurer
• Filing an accident or injury lawsuit if negotiations fail 

Injury victims typically have enough challenges to face without the added complications of filing a legal claim. For this reason, you shouldn’t attempt to pursue a claim without the guidance of a seasoned legal professional.

Morgan and Morgan’s boat accident lawyers in Orlando will handle every aspect of your case and work to get you the money you’re rightfully owed while you focus on your recovery.

Victims who have valid personal injury claims following Orlando boating accidents often wonder what types of compensation they can recover. In most accident and injury civil claims, plaintiffs can seek both economic and non-economic financial damages.

Examples of Economic Damages in Boat Accident Cases

Economic damages are sometimes known as special damages. These compensatory payments make up for the direct monetary and financial losses resulting from a boat accident.

Some of the most common examples of economic damages in Orlando boat accident cases include:

• Current and past medical expenses
• Property damage, including vessel repairs or replacement
• Lost wages from an inability to work
• Inability to earn income over the long term
• Anticipated costs of future medical care
• Legal fees and court costs 

If you’ve been injured in a boating mishap, you might find yourself up against a mountain of unpaid bills and other costs. Morgan & Morgan will evaluate the financial impact of your boat accident by reviewing invoices, bills, and receipts and seek to secure the maximum amount of financial damages for your claim.

Examples of Non-Economic Damages in Boat Accident Cases

Non-economic damages are also known as general damages. These payments are intended to repay boat accident injury victims for the personal, emotional, and psychological harm they experience.

Though these sorts of intangible losses don’t always result in direct monetary loss, injury victims still deserve to be compensated for their hardships. Typical examples of non-economic damages in boat injury claims are: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Emotional trauma and anguish
• Long-term decrease in quality of life
• Embarrassment or social ostracization
• Psychological issues or damage 

In the case of a fatal boating accident injury, the victim’s family may be able to file suit on their behalf.

Florida law allows the estate of a decedent to pursue financial compensation for their loved one’s death in the form of a wrongful death claim. These claims allow the victim’s estate to obtain financial recovery for various losses, including: 

• Funerary and burial expenses
• End-of-life care
• The victim’s outstanding medical bills
• The victim’s pain and suffering
• The family’s pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of parental guidance and care 

Losing a loved one due to another party’s carelessness is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through. Reach out to the compassionate legal team at Morgan and Morgan to get the advice of an accomplished wrongful death attorney in Orlando.

The state of Florida has legal time limits on boating accident claims. This legal deadline is known as the statute of limitations. 

For most boating accident and injury lawsuits in Orlando, victims must file a claim within four years of the date of the initial incident. However, exceptions to this rule exist. 

Some boat accidents are covered by admiralty law, which is also called referred to as federal maritime law. These marine statutes take legal precedence over private maritime cases involving lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water shared by multiple states.  

Under admiralty law, victims must file a lawsuit within three years of the initial boat accident. Talk to a Morgan & Morgan attorney to determine how long you have to file your claim.

Our skilled lawyers will ensure that all relevant deadlines in your case are met, giving you the highest likelihood of securing compensation in your Orlando boat accident case.

Cruise ships are large passenger vessels typically employed for vacations and recreational activities. Because of their size, capacity, and range of uses, there are many legal complications at play when a person is injured aboard a cruise ship. 

Some cruise lines require injured passengers to report their intention to file suit within six months of the initial incident. This short deadline makes it difficult to gather sufficient evidence to bolster your case and get the recovery you’re owed.

If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship, it’s vital that you contact the knowledgeable tort lawyers at America’s largest law firm, Morgan and Morgan. We’ll quickly gather evidence and size up your potential legal options.

Don’t get stuck dealing with the burdens of a boating accident on your own. If you’ve been harmed physically, psychologically, or financially because of another person’s negligence, you deserve compensation. The veteran legal professionals at Morgan & Morgan can help.

Complete the brief contact form on our website to arrange a no-cost case evaluation.