Driver Inattention Can Lead to Deadly Boat Accidents
The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau believe in helping people in and around Daytona Beach. We are committed to this city and its people, and believe in providing the community with expert legal counsel.
While we have written a lot about injuries sustained on land, our law firm is also able to litigate maritime cases and lawsuits over boating accidents. A number of these tragic collisions on water involve inattentive drivers. Let's explore this issue in a bit more detail.
Attentiveness Is Key to Safety
Whether you are operating a vehicle on the land or operating a vehicle on the water, it is of the utmost attention that you pay attention to your surroundings. Remaining attentive is a great way to avoid serious accidents with others on the water. This means people who are in other water vessels as well as people who are swimming or wading.
Attentiveness is especially important when driving a motorboat or any vehicle with a motor. The velocity and the dangers the rotors pose cannot be understated.
Inattention and Boat Accidents
When people fail to pay attention to their surroundings, this can lead to serious accidents. Other boats and water vehicles may be hit, injuring everyone involved in the collision. This is especially dangerous if a swimmer is struck by a boat.
When inattention is the cause of an accident, this makes boating accident especially tragic. In almost all of these cases, the accident could have been avoided if people exercised proper responsibility while on the water.
Negligence and Responsibility
If a driver of a boat was inattentive while operating the vehicle, he or she should be held accountable for their actions. This is why people seek personal injury claims after boating accidents. These kinds of lawsuits seek damages from the defendant that will cover medical bills, lost wages, issues related to long-term disability, and so forth. In boating accidents that result in the loss of a loved one, a wrongful death claim can be sought to address the untimely and avoidable death of that loved one.
What Is the Statute of Limitations in Florida for Boat Accidents
While issues of international waters may be a little murky given the statute of limitations, it's best to consider simple rules in injury law. In Florida, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is 4 years. That means 4 years from the date that the accident or injury took place. For wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Keep in mind that while you may have a few years to begin filing a lawsuit, it's always in your best interests to act immediately and seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
How a Maritime Law Attorney Can Help
A boating accident attorney will provide you with expert counsel. We will help with initial paperwork of your case as well as examining the evidence and circumstances surrounding it. We can also provide useful insight on whether you should accept a legal settlement or take your boating accident case all the way to trial.
Do not go it alone. We are here to help you.
Learn More About Boat Accident Lawsuits
To learn more about your legal rights in a boat accident, it's of the utmost importance that you contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The legal team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau will help you in your time of legal need.