St. Petersburg Boating Accident Lawyer
Florida has more boating accidents than any other state, and unfortunately, many of them occur in the St. Petersburg area. Of all the counties in Florida, Pinellas County has the fourth highest number of accidents involving boats or personal watercraft.
In 2020, there were 51,506 recreational vessels registered in Pinellas County and 985,005 registered vessels in the whole state. Statewide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports 836 boating accidents in 2020, an increase of 113 more than the year before, while Pinellas County had 56 boating accidents, which caused 24 injuries and four fatalities.
If you or a family member have been seriously injured in a Florida boating accident, you are may be dealing with many problems all at once. Boating accident injuries cause pain, emotional trauma, financial stress, and other difficult changes that affect the whole family.
The experienced St. Petersburg boating accident attorneys at the Dennis Hernandez law firm understand what these problems and are here to help. We have helped hundreds of accident victims throughout Florida and will fight to get you the financial compensation you need so that you can focus your time and energy on recovering from your injuries.
WHAT KINDS OF BOATING ACCIDENTS OCCUR NEAR ST. PETERSBURG?
It is easy to see why boating is so popular with St. Petersburg residents and visitors and why the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area is called “America’s boating and sailing capital.” With great weather and convenient access to the Gulf of Mexico, Boca Ciega Bay, Tampa Bay, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and many lakes, canals, and other waterways, the area is the perfect place for fishing, power cruising, water skiing, sailing and all other recreational boating activities.
Unfortunately, accidents can happen on any of those bodies of water involving any type of boat or personal vessel, from a yacht to a jet ski. Florida law, in section 372.02 of the Florida Statutes, provides a broad definition of “boating accident” that includes the many types of accidents that can occur on, in, or entering or leaving the water.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which enforces boat safety laws, reports that the most common type of boating accident in Pinellas County is a collision with another vessel. Other common accidents involve a boat or personal vessel colliding with a fixed object, such as a dock or a rock, or a person falling overboard. The most common cause of Pinellas boating accidents is, by a large margin, boat operators being inattentive or not properly looking out. The second most common cause is machinery failure.
BOATING ACCIDENT INJURIES
Fatalities in boating accidents are most commonly caused by drowning, but there are many other types of injuries. These include injuries to the head, spine, or lungs, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones. People who are water skiing or using personal vessels such as jet skis are especially vulnerable to serious injuries from collisions.
HOW A DENNIS HERNANDEZ ST. PETERSBURG BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER CAN HELP YOU
If a reckless or negligent boat or vessel operator caused or contributed to your accident, you may be able to hold them responsible and obtain substantial financial compensation for your injuries. The St. Petersburg boating accident attorneys at Dennis Hernandez have many years of experience helping injured accident victims achieve justice and get the full compensation they deserve.
Your boating accident attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident and gather all of the evidence necessary to prove negligence on the part of the other vessel operator.
- Demonstrate that the other boater was at fault and should be held liable for the injuries you suffered.
- Examine your medical records and collect evidence to show the full extent of your injuries, medical needs and losses.
- Negotiate vigorously with the insurance company representatives and attorneys for the full settlement you deserve.
- Take the case to court and fight to win if a satisfactory settlement is not reached.
We never back down and we don’t stop fighting until you get the justice you deserve.
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR ST. PETERSBURG BOATING ACCIDENT VICTIMS
The experienced boating accident lawyers in the Dennis Hernandez law firm in St. Petersburg never back down until you get everything you deserve. Florida law provides that you may get financial compensation for the expenses and losses caused by your boating accident. These may include:
- Physical pain
- Emotional anguish
- Current and future doctor, hospital, and other medical expenses
- Current and future lost income
- Property damage
- Diminished capacity to enjoy life
- Other damages that Florida law provides
GET THE HELP YOU NEED FROM AN EXPERIENCED ST. PETERSBURG BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER
A Dennis Hernandez St. Petersburg boating accident lawyer will fight for your right to be fairly compensated for your accident injuries. We gather evidence in a timely manner to demonstrate negligence, negotiate skillfully and aggressively with the insurance company, and present a compelling case that shows your full need for compensation.
Some St. Petersburg accident lawyers don’t like to go to trial, so they will settle early with insurance companies, but we never back down. We have trial experience, knowledge, and resources that we put to work for you to take your case as far as it needs to go. We don’t stop until you get fair and full compensation. When you work with a Dennis Hernandez boating accident lawyer, you get outstanding support and advocacy every step of the way.
Call us at 855.529.3366 or fill in the FREE CASE EVALUATION form today!