Boating Accident Lawyer in Miami

Boating is a very important part of life for Floridians and many vacationers. But just ask any lawyer, boating is also a very dangerous part of life. According to state statistics, Florida has more than double the number of boating accidents than the next highest state. Over 300 people are injured each year in Florida boating accidents. Victims may not just be individuals on boats, but also swimmers and other individuals enjoying the water on smaller watercraft such as kayaks, jet skis, or other smaller vessels. Our Miami boating accident lawyer understands how dangerous and deadly these accidents can be.  All victims of any accident on the water should ask for an experienced lawyer to help them with their claim.

Individuals who have suffered serious or catastrophic personal injuries in a Florida boating accident may be entitled to compensation for their damages. In personal injury matters, “damages” are monetary compensation paid for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, lost future earnings, loss of consortium with spouses, property damage, and other costs associated with an accident. If you or a loved one were involved in a boating accident, ask our Miami boating accident lawyer at Schlacter Law how we can help protect your rights to compensation.

Contact a lawyer anytime you are involved in a boating accident which results in personal injuries or if a loved one was wrongfully killed. It does not matter how the accident occurred, ask our lawyer to investigate what happened and what your rights may be. At Schlacter Law, we handle boating accidents resulting in serious or catastrophic damages including the following:

• Collisions with other vessels
• Capsizing boats
• Striking underwater objects such as marked jetties, reefs, or jetties
• Flooding
• Wake damage
• Sinking
• Falls overboard
• Drownings
• Slip and falls or trip and falls on the boat
• Grounding or striking solid ground like the land
• Explosions
• Fires
• Intentional torts such as assaults or sex offenses on boats, especially chartered boats or cruises
• Collisions with fixed objects such as docks
• Striking swimmers or individuals on smaller watercraft like jet skis, kayaks, or other vessels
• Water skiing accidents
• Tubing accidents
• Any other types of water accidents that our Miami lawyer may be able to help you with

Our experienced lawyer at Schlacter Law knows that boating accident cases can result in catastrophic personal injuries. It does not matter whether you were on a boat, on the water in another vessel, in the water swimming, or on the dock, any person injured by the reckless, careless, or negligent conduct of a boat operator may be entitled to compensation for personal injuries and damages. Given the sheer size and force of most boats, individuals hurt on the water typically suffer devastating, disabling, and permanent damages.

Some of the most common damages our lawyer may handle include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs
• Spinal cord injuries or SCI
• Amputations
• Wrongful death
• Broken bones or fractured bones
• Significant lacerations, including propeller injuries
• Organ damage, including liver lacerations, collapsed lungs, heart contusions, and other organ damage
• Neck and back injuries, including disc herniations or disc protrusions 
• Nerve injuries, especially brachial plexus nerve damage or debilitating sciatic nerve pain
• Paralysis, including paraplegia, quadriplegia, or monoplegia
• Burn injuries from fires or explosions, especially from fuel
• Head injuries
• TMJ
• Torn meniscus, ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL, or other knee injuries
• Torn labrum in the hip or shoulder
• SLAP tears or rotator cuff tears in the shoulder
• Impact injuries from colliding with objects
• Other serious types of injuries our Miami lawyer could review and possibly handle for you and your loved ones

Most accidents on the water could be completely avoided with the proper care and attention required of a reasonable boat driver. While the weather and conditions matter, many Miami boating accidents could be avoided if drivers and passengers protect themselves from unnecessary harm. But far too many boaters unreasonably increase the risk of harm which results in reckless, careless, and downright negligent conduct.

The most common negligent conduct that our lawyer may handle for you or a loved one include the following:

• Drunk driving or drugged driving
• Failure to keep a lookout for other vessels or warning buoys 
• Taking a wave or wake improperly
• Recklessly going into stormy or dangerous weather, especially against Coast Guard advice/guidance
• Failing to have the proper safety equipment
• Mechanical defects
• Overcrowding or overloading a boat
• Operating at an unsafe speed
• Other common boat operation errors which our Miami lawyer could review for you

There are many dangerous places where accidents are more likely to occur on the water. The two most common places are marinas and under bridges. This is because most boats and watercraft must funnel through these areas. These are also areas where there are the most people on or in the water, especially short bridges with ladders for kids to jump off or for fisherman to go.

The other most common places that our lawyer warns drivers, passengers, and others in or on the water to guard against accidents include the following:

• Marinas
• Bridges
• Bays and sounds
• Beaches
• Lakes and ponds
• Ports and industrial harbors
• Marshes or swamps
• Rivers
• Canals
• Oceans
• The Gulf
• Other bodies of water that our lawyer warns people to be careful in

Victims injured in a Florida boating accident need a lawyer like ours at Schlacter Law. We represent individuals who have been catastrophically injured due to the negligence of another person, business, or state agency. Learn how we can begin to fight back to protect your rights by calling for a FREE consultation by dialing (305) 999-1111 today.

How We Handle Cases

1. Investigation
   • Your attorney will aggressively investigate your case. Schlacter Law will compile all necessary evidence needed to maximize the value of your case. Which includes but is not limited to photographs, police reports, security camera footage, witness statements, medical bills and medical records.
   • You will remain in constant contact with Schlacter Law about the progression of your case.
2. Negotiation
   • Your attorney will present your case to the insurance company and will attempt to resolve your case before the case goes to court for maximum compensation.
   • Your attorney will make every effort possible to resolve the case as quickly as possible for the most amount of money you may be entitled to. You will be actively involved in the negotiation process with your attorney. Schlacter Law understands that this is your one opportunity to get justice for your loss.
3. Litigation
   • If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, Schlacter Law will be fully prepared to bring your case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
   • At no cost to you, Schlacter Law will hire any experts and professionals needed to maximize your recovery and present your case in the strongest form possible.