Orlando Boating Accident Lawyer

Waterways in and around Orlando, Florida, provide abundant opportunities for recreational boating. Residents and visitors alike enjoy going out on the area’s lakes and rivers for fishing, watching wildlife, celebrating special events, or simply relaxing. The Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast are also both a short drive away.

Unfortunately, this access to waterways and recreational boating has a downside. Statewide, Florida has more water vessel accidents than any state in the U.S., with 836 accidents in 2020 alone. Among all of the counties in Florida, Orlando’s Orange County ranked as the 30th most dangerous county for boating accidents, putting it in the bottom half of Florida’s 67 counties for boating safety.

Many of these boating and personal watercraft vessel accidents cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, lung injuries, lacerations, broken bones, and accidental amputations. Falling overboard and drowning is a common cause of boating accident fatalities.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a boating accident, you may feel overwhelmed with having to deal with many new problems at once, including pain, psychological distress, bills for medical care, decreased income, and upsetting changes to your family’s way of life. The Dennis Hernandez Orlando boating accident attorneys understand what you are going through and want to help. We have had the privilege of helping accident victims throughout Florida for many years and are committed to fighting for justice and fair compensation for people injured in boating accidents.
 

WHAT TYPES OF BOATING ACCIDENTS OCCUR IN ORLANDO?

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2020 Florida Boating Accident Report, the primary type of boating accident in Florida in 2020 was a collision with another vessel or with a fixed object, such as a dock, rock or channel marker. Most accidents occurred while a boat was cruising, with a smaller number happening when a boat was docked, changing direction, drifting, changing speed, at anchor, or docking or undocking.

Open motorboats were the most common type of vessel involved in accidents, followed by personal watercraft, cabin motorboats, sailboats, pontoon boats, airboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and houseboats. Most vessels involved in accidents were made of fiberglass and most were fueled by gas.

The wide range of types of boating accidents is recognized in Florida law. Section 372.02 of the Florida Statutes defines “boating accident” broadly to include the many types of collisions and other accidents that may occur when a vessel is in, upon, or getting into or leaving the water.
 

NEGLIGENCE IN ORLANDO BOATING ACCIDENTS

Most boating accidents in Florida occur because a boating or personal-vessel operator is negligent. The most common cause of a vessel accident is boat operators not paying attention to where they are going or not recognizing potential dangers. This can happen when vessel operators are distracted by talking to other passengers or when using their phones or other devices. Operator inexperience is another common cause of accidents.

Vessel operators may be deemed at fault for an accident if they are negligent or reckless. In addition to being inattentive or inexperienced, reasons that operators may be at fault include:

• Causing an accident when under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Not following navigational rules
• Ignoring safety procedures
• Not properly maintaining their vessels

HOW CAN A DENNIS HERNANDEZ ORLANDO BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER HELP INJURED VICTIMS?

Under Florida law, boat and personal vessel operators can be held legally responsible if they caused an accident by operating their vessel negligently or recklessly. If you or a loved one were injured in a boating accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent operator and receive substantial compensation for your injuries.

The Dennis Hernandez Orlando boating accident lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims get the fair compensation they are entitled to by the law. We do this by:

• Conducting a thorough investigation of the cause of the accident.
• Determining who was at fault and, should, therefore, be held liable for your injuries.
• Working with medical experts to determine your present and future medical needs.
• Negotiating aggressively and being prepared to take your case as far as necessary to get the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.

FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR ORLANDO BOATING ACCIDENT VICTIMS

The experienced Dennis Hernandez accident lawyers are committed to seeing you get full compensation for your expenses and losses. We will fight back against insurance companies’ attempts to pay you less than you deserve, potentially including substantial compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Diminished enjoyment of life
• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Mental anguish
• Other damages recoverable under Florida law

GET HELP FROM AN EXPERIENCED ORLANDO BOATING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

A Dennis Hernandez Orlando boating accident attorney will ensure you get all that you are entitled to. We will build a powerful case for you by gathering evidence, negotiating aggressively, and demonstrating your need for compensation for all of your losses — and never backing down.

To get started on your case, call us today at 855.529.3366 or fill in the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website.