Call Us Today The Fort Myers area is renowned for its beautiful beaches and incredible waterways. Boating is important here, not only as a means of transportation but also as recreation. Unfortunately, recreational boating is often unskilled boating, and accidents and injuries can happen.
If you have been hurt in a boating accident, you may not be sure what to do next. Determining who is liable and how to get the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills and lost wages isn’t always clear. A Fort Myers boating accident lawyer can help.
Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers at Viles & Beckman LLC have recovered over $100 million in awards and settlements for injured victims. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and tell us your story.
Do You Need an Attorney After a Boating Accident?
Even minor boating accidents can result in serious injuries and property damage. It is smart to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. A skilled lawyer can help you avoid many common mistakes after a boating accident.
We can evaluate any settlement offers from insurance companies and determine whether they are fair. Unfortunately, insurance providers may try to convince you to accept settlements under the amount you need. They may even try to talk you out of contacting a lawyer.
You’ll have an ally on your side, looking out for your best interests. Insurance companies have powerful lawyers doing their best to make sure they come out on top. It only seems fair that you have the same.
Expect More, Receive More: Legal Support That Feels Like Family
We Can Hold Liable Parties Accountable
If a negligent boater has injured you, we will investigate your accident to get you the compensation you deserve. Our experienced boating accident lawyers in Fort Myers are dedicated to holding careless and dangerous boaters responsible for the harm they cause.
Alcohol and drug use are not uncommon with some recreational boaters. Police officers have a harder time detecting and regulating drunk boating than drunk driving, but the two are equally dangerous. In fact, boats may have an even greater capacity for causing death and destruction.
Serious boating accidents are commonplace in and around Fort Myers. Even though someone may legally be able to take a boat out on a waterway without any skill or knowledge, they nevertheless must act carefully and follow the law.
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We Can Calculate Your Compensation
Investigating your accident will tell us who is liable for your damages. We can then help you file claims with the appropriate insurance companies. We will calculate the maximum compensation and seek a fair settlement that will cover your damages.
In personal injury cases, two types of damages will make up your settlement: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Your accident-related costs and expenses are considered economic damages. They have a specific price tag, and your Fort Myers boating accident attorney can easily calculate the financial compensation you need.
While every case is different, your economic damages may include:
- The cost of your medical care, such as emergency room visits, ambulance rides, physician visits, surgery, medications, and physical therapy
- The projected costs of your continuing medical needs after the accident
- The value of your lost wages if you are unable to work after your accident
- Property damage, such as repairs to your boat or watercraft
- Long-term employment issues, such as when you are unable to continue in your present job due to your injuries
Non-economic Damages
In some cases, your settlement could include damages that aren’t associated with your financial hardships. Non-economic damages address emotional and psychological issues that result from your accident. These could include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
Your attorney can let you know if non-economic damages are something you can pursue in your case.
Click To ContactTypes of Boating Accidents
Boating accidents can occur in almost any way you can imagine. For some boaters, accidents happen due to the combination of high speeds and uncertain waters. But even slow-moving craft can run into problems where injuries can occur.
Some of the common boating accidents in Fort Myers include:
- Collisions between boats can occur when one or more operators behave recklessly or fail to pay attention to the surrounding waters.
- Boaters may slip and fall on wet decks, or fall overboard resulting in injuries and even drowning.
- Boats can collide with docks or piers when driven by reckless or inexperienced operators.
- Boats may capsize when the driver is reckless, when they are taken out in dangerous weather conditions, or when they are used in ways inappropriate for their size and capacity.
- Boats may strike swimmers or downed water skiers who are hard to spot when in the water.
- Fires and explosions can occur on boats when proper safety precautions are not followed.
- Boats may collide with sandbars and other submerged objects if they are not properly marked, or if the operator is unfamiliar with the waters.
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Avoidable Injuries in Boating Accidents
Injuries in boating accidents often happen due to avoidable factors. Some of the most common causes of injuries our boating accident lawyers see include:
- Alcohol use: Reduced reaction time and decision making not only increase the chances of a boating accident, but impair decision making in dealing with the aftermath
- Inexperience: Bad decision making due to a lack of training or a poor understanding of boating safety can be fatal in Florida waters
- Life jacket usage: Wearing a life jacket can mean the difference between life and death in a serious boating accident
- Bad weather: Florida weather can be unpredictable, and boaters who fail to monitor weather reports can be caught out during thunderstorms and rough seas
Contact a Fort Myers Boating Accident Attorney
Every day in South and Southwest Florida, people operate powerful boats and watercraft without training or licenses. Too often, this results in injuries that cause innocent people to suffer serious financial, physical, and emotional damage.
When you are injured in a boating accident, our Fort Myers boating accident attorneys can help. We’ll identify the liable parties, and work to get you the compensation you need to begin putting your life back together.
At Viles & Beckman, we’ve stood up for injured Florida residents since 1995. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
Call or text (239) 334-3933 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
