The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine help boating accident claimants pursue damages. Whether you were hurt while operating a boat or riding in one, we can seek recovery for your medical bills and other related expenses.
These cases get complicated because Florida does not require boat insurance. However, a boat accident lawyer from our Naples personal injury firmcan explore your options and build a case that reflects your situation.
Your Injury Case Comes with Important Deadlines
These deadlines may apply to your case:
- If you suffered serious injuries in a boating accident, you typically have four years to file your lawsuit, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a).
- If you lost a loved one, you generally have two years to file your wrongful death lawsuit, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d).
Filing your case outside of these deadlines could forfeit your right to financial recovery.
We Can Determine Whether You Qualify for Any Exceptions
Florida Statutes § 95.051 lists some exceptions that could extend your filing deadline:
- The at-fault party left the accident scene without providing their information.
- You didn’t discover your injuries until after the accident happened.
- The at-fault party gave a fake name to avoid liability.
- The at-fault party left the state.
- A physical or cognitive disability prevented you from filing your case.
While the state of Florida makes certain exceptions for certain cases, you shouldn’t assume any apply to you. Our team can evaluate your case and explain how long you have to file your lawsuit.
Recoverable Damages in a Collier County Boating Accident Case
With our law firm’s help, you can seek the following injury-related losses:
- Medical bills, including those you haven’t incurred yet
- Lost wages, bonuses, tips, and employment benefits
- Property damage expenses, including the cost of repairing your boat
- Funeral expenses, including burial, cremation, and embalming
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring or disfigurement
The value of these losses depends on certain aspects of your case. For instance, we will use your prognosis to determine the value of your future medical expenses. We will use your own personal testimony to calculate your pain and suffering.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Boat Accident Lawyer from Our Firm?
Our boat accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. So, our clients:
- Don’t pay anything up front
- Don’t pay anything out of pocket
- Pay us from the settlement or award we get for them
We finance all consulting, filing fees, and courtroom costs until your case’s conclusion. Additionally, we will discuss our terms of payment at the very beginning of your case so you know what to expect.
How will Our Legal Team Aim to Resolve Your Case?
We may take the following actions to resolve your case:
We May File an Insurance Claim
This can get complicated since boating insurance isn’t required in Florida. However, if someone carried boating insurance, we can file a claim with their insurer. This involves:
- Using evidence to prove your damages
- Understanding the value of your case
- Reviewing the applicable policy
- Handling communications with insurance representatives and claims adjusters
- Negotiating a settlement
- Protecting you from unfair insurance practices
We May Mediate Your Case
Most of our clients don’t want to file lawsuits. That’s because going to court has a reputation for being costly and time-consuming. So, if an insurance claim isn’t feasible, we may try to mediate your case. This is when we sit down with the other party, their representative, and a neutral mediator to resolve your case.
Ideally, we can arrive at an agreement that benefits both parties. If not, however, we can file a civil lawsuit.
We Can File Your Lawsuit
If the other party doesn’t have insurance or refuses to mediate your case, we can file a lawsuit. This may involve:
- Cross-examining witnesses
- Presenting your testimony
- Taking depositions
- Exchanging evidence with the defendant’s lawyer
- Arguing your case to the judge and jury
- Looking for inconsistencies in witnesses’ testimonies
- Investigate
We will handle everything involved in your insurance claim or lawsuit. While you spend time with your loved ones, we’ll fight to hold the negligent party accountable.
We will Gather Evidence to Support Your Case in Naples
To recover damages, our team must prove that because another party acted negligently, you deserve compensation. Supporting evidence in your case could comprise:
- A police report from Collier County
- Photos of the accident scene and your boat
- Your medical records, including imaging scans and lab test data
- Eyewitness testimony
- Statements from your healthcare team and accident reconstruction specialists
- Dashcam footage (if available)
- Statements made by the defendant at the accident scene
Florida prohibits impaired boating. If we find that the other party was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your accident, we could use this information to supplement your case.
Steps to Take After a Boating Accident in Naples, FL
We recommend doing these three things after your boating accident:
Visiting a Healthcare Provider
You might have no visible impairments. However, internally, your body could tell a different story. Internal injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, and sprains, can take days to manifest.
By consulting with a doctor, you can learn more about what measures can safeguard your health. We can use all supporting medical documents to prove your case as well.
Writing Down Your Version of Events
The other party’s lawyer will try to “poke holes” through your testimony. They may use any inconsistences to refute blame for the accident or question the cause of your injuries. By writing down your side of the story, we can present your allegations as accurately as possible.
Keep Your Case Between You and Your Legal Team
Anything you say online could discredit certain aspects of your case. For instance, if you upload a photo of yourself at a party, this could imply that you didn’t suffer serious injuries – even if it’s an old picture.
Keep all discussions of your case between yourself and your lawyer. We also advise against giving a recorded statement to the liable insurer.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a Free Case Review
Explore working with a boating accident lawyer in Naples by dialing (239) 900-3000. Your first case review is free and offered at no obligation.