If you suffered injuries in a Plantation boat accident, we may be able to help you hold the boater responsible. You could collect compensation for your medical bills, damage to your boat, and other damages.
A boat accident lawyer in Plantation, FL from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine offer free assessments and consultations for boat accident victims. If you need help understanding the strength of your case or holding a negligent boater liable, we can help. We may be able to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to collect compensation on your behalf.
Call us today at 1-800-747-3733 for your complimentary case review.
Damages Available in a Successful Plantation, FL, Boat Accident Case
If we can win a payout from the insurance company or in a personal injury lawsuit, it should cover a wide range of damages you suffered because of the boating accident. While we will not know exactly which damages we can recover for you until we investigate your case and pursue a claim, some of the most common damages we can collect for our clients in a Plantation boat accident include:
- Medical care and related costs
- Ongoing care costs
- Other health care costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of your boat
- Replacement of other damaged personal property
- Out of pocket costs related to the accident
- Pain and suffering damages
In some cases, punitive damages might also be available if we take your Plantation boat accident case to court. Judges award punitive damages as a way to punish boaters who acted in a particularly malicious or intentional way. For example, if the boater who caused your accident was drinking at the time, you might be eligible for these types of damages.
Proving Negligence and Liability in Your Plantation Boat Accident Case
To hold an at-fault boat driver liable for the injuries and financial damages you suffered, we need to prove they acted negligently. Often, we have a good idea why the accident happened — because of a distracted, drunk, or inexperienced boater — but we need to collect evidence to show exactly how they caused it. This is possible by proving four elements:
- The boater had an obligation to do something or not do something, in order to keep you safe.
- They failed to uphold this obligation.
- This failure caused the accident, and you suffered injuries.
- You suffered financial expenses and other losses because of the accident.
For example, imagine a boater did not reduce their speed as they approached a marina. You were in a kayak nearby, and they collided with you. This caused you serious injuries, and you suffered a wide range of economic and noneconomic losses. Because we can show the driver had a duty to slow down but failed to do so, we can prove negligence and liability. This is just one situation that can lead to a boat accident.
Some situations that might support a valid boat accident case include:
- A negligent boater colliding with your boat
- Being a passenger on the boat of a negligent boater
- Being thrown from the boat of the negligent boater
- Being in the water when hit by a negligent boater
- A negligent boater hitting your kayak, canoe, or other small vessel
In some cases, we may also be able to identify other liable parties in your case. This is most common when the negligent boater piloted a rented or borrowed boat. Boat owners have a responsibility to maintain their vessels properly and to prevent intoxicated boaters from driving them. For example, if we can show the boat rental company knew the boater was intoxicated, they may be liable as well.
Understanding the Plantation Boat Accident Claims Process
The first step in building a strong case for compensation is to investigate how and why your accident occurred. We launch a full investigation as soon as possible, working to identify and collect evidence to prove negligence and liability, as well as the value of your damages.
This investigation may require us to:
- Obtain copies of the accident report from police or Coast Guard.
- Collect and analyze all available evidence pertaining to your case.
- Review witness statements and conduct additional interviews.
- Enlist a survey team to survey and document the scene.
- View pictures or video of the collision.
- Request copies of your medical records.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts who specialize in boating accidents.
- Interview experts about your prognosis, impairments, and future care.
- Collect evidence to prove your losses and expenses.
Once we have a strong case to support an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, we can consider how best to try to cover compensation. Often, we can file a liability insurance claim based on the homeowner’s insurance policy of the boater. If their homeowner’s insurance will not cover the boating accident, they may have a policy specifically for their boat.
When we file a claim, we:
- Send a demand letter to the insurance company outlining our case against their policyholder.
- Provide evidence of your full range of damages.
- Review their counter-offer and accept or reject it.
- Enter into a series of settlement negotiations.
- Do everything possible to reach a fair settlement agreement.
- File a personal injury lawsuit if we cannot recover fair compensation through an insurance claim.
Talk to a Boat Accident Lawyer in Plantation, FL Today
A boat accident lawyer in Plantation, FL at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will review your case for free and ensure your rights remain protected after a Plantation boat accident. We handle many boating accident cases on a contingency basis. You will not need to pay us any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Call our office today at 1-800-747-3733 for your complimentary consultation with a member of our team in Plantation.
We Can Help.
