Fort Myers Boating Accident Lawyer
Fort Myers is famous for its fishing and recreational boating. Residents and visitors love to cruise along the Caloosahatchee River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico. Waterskiing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing are popular, as are kayaking and canoeing to explore the area’s lakes, rivers, and estuaries.
Florida has 985,005 registered waterway vessels, more than any other state. Unfortunately, Florida also has the most boating accidents of any state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that in 2020 alone, 836 boating accidents were reported statewide.
According to the state’s Boating Accident Statistical Report, Lee County accounts for many of these accidents, with the fifth-highest number of boating accidents among all of Florida’s counties. In 2020, there were 48 reported accidents in Lee County, and more than half of those caused injuries or fatalities.
If you or a family member were seriously injured in a boating accident, you may be having a difficult time adjusting to all the new challenges you face. Dealing with physical pain, emotional anguish, lost or diminished income, medical bills, and the disruption of the family’s familiar routines can feel overwhelming.
The Dennis Hernandez Fort Myers boating accident attorneys understand and want to help. We have years of experience helping people injured in accidents throughout Florida and are committed to fighting for justice and the compensation you deserve for your boating accident injuries.
WHAT KINDS OF BOATING ACCIDENTS OCCUR IN THE FORT MYERS AREA?
Boats and personal watercraft vessels of all sizes have been involved in accidents in the Fort Myers area. According to the 2020 Florida Boating Accident Statistical Report, the most common size of the vessels involved in boating accidents in Lee County was 22-to-26 feet long, but collisions and other accidents involved vessels ranging in size from less than 12 feet to more than 66. Open motorboats were the most common type of vessel involved in accidents, followed by personal watercraft, cabin motorboats, and pontoon boats.
The most common type of boating accident in the Fort Myers area is a collision with another vessel. Other accidents involve colliding with fixed objects, falling overboard, being struck by a skeg or propeller, falling inside a boat, and boats flooding or swamping.
WHAT CAUSES BOATING ACCIDENTS IN THE FORT MYERS AREA?
Section 372.02 of the Florida Statutes gives a broad definition of “boating accident” that includes the many ways that vessels can get into accidents while entering, on, or leaving the water. However, accidents usually occur due to vessel operators’ negligence.
In fact, almost a third of the accidents reported in Lee County in 2020 were caused by operators being inattentive or not taking proper safety precautions. Other causes of boating accidents include:
- operator inexperience
- excessive speed
- machinery failure
- congested water
WHAT FINANCIAL COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE FOR A FORT MYERS BOATING ACCIDENT VICTIM?
Florida law gives you the right to seek compensation for serious injuries sustained in boating accidents that were caused by negligent vessel operators. Insurance companies, however, try to pay as little as they can get away with on claims.
When you have an experienced Dennis Hernandez Fort Myers boating accident lawyer on your side, you have someone who will stand up for you against the insurance company’s lawyers and representatives. We won’t back down, and we won’t stop fighting for you until you get all the compensation you deserve.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and the type and extent of your injuries, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation for your:
- Current and future medical expenses, including doctor appointments, medication, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and other costs of treatment
- Physical pain
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Current and future lost income and decreased earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Other damages recoverable under Florida law
HOW CAN A FORT MYERS BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER HELP?
Florida law requires that people operate their boats responsibly. If a boat operator causes an accident because they are negligent or reckless, you may be able to hold them liable for the harm you suffered. Negligence includes operating a vessel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not following standard safety procedures, speeding excessively, and not maintaining a vessel.
Dennis Hernandez Fort Myers boating accident lawyers have years of experience helping accident victims like you recover all the compensation the law provides. We will do a thorough investigation of the accident to determine who was at fault, find out if the boat owner may be liable for the operator’s negligence, consult medical experts to determine the full extent of your current and future medical needs, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We never back down, and we have the litigation experience and skills to present a powerful case in the courtroom if that’s what is necessary to get you a fair result.
LEGAL HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM AN EXPERIENCED FT. MYERS BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER
At the Dennis Hernandez law firm, we are committed to seeing you get fair compensation for your boating accident injuries. Our legal team will gather the evidence to prove negligence and to demonstrate the full extent of the compensation you need for the physical, emotional, and financial harm the accident caused you and your family. When you work with a Dennis Hernandez boating accident lawyer, you are assured of having a strong advocate who will support you and fight for your rights throughout the entire legal process.
Call us at 855.529.3366 or fill in the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website to find out more about how we can help.