Fort Myers Boat Accident Lawyer
There are few places in the country that have as good of boating conditions as Fort Myers. With pristine weather and great access to the ocean, Fort Myers has an exceptionally high number of boats per capita. Yet, not everyone operates their water vessel in a safe and careful manner. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, or a loved one lost their life in a drowning fatality, the Fort Myers boat accident lawyer at Cardinal Law, P.A. can assist you in filing a claim with the appropriate party. You may be entitled to a significant sum of compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of joy of life, property damage, and much more.
Common Examples of Boating Accidents
The following are just a few examples of boat accident cases we have seen in the past. In most cases, one or more parties are responsible for causing the incident, whether the victim suffered blunt force trauma, lacerations, burns, or drowning.
- Reckless operation of a motor boat resulting in a collision with another party
- Intoxicated operator loses a passenger over the side and fails to retrieve them in time
- Inexperienced jet skier collides with a swimmer
- Distracted wakeboard boat operator runs into a kayaker
- Boat owner fails to properly maintain their vessel, resulting in an engine fire out on the water
- Negligent boat operator did not have enough life jackets for all passengers and a capsize occurred
Top Ten Causes of Fort Myers Boat Accidents
According to the US Coast Guard, the following are the top 10 primary contributing factors that lead to boat accidents:
- Operator inattention
- Operator inexperience
- Improper lookout
- Excessive speed
- Machinery failure
- Weather
- Alcohol
- Navigation rules violation
- Hazardous waters
- Force of wake/wave
While some of these accidents may sound or seem to be freak accidents or acts of God, all of them can be attributed to human error, even weather. In terms of an accident caused by bad weather, the boat operator can still be held liable in a personal injury claim based on the fact that they did not properly monitor forecasts, or turn back before conditions became too dangerous. Liability can also be established based on machinery failure that the boat owner should have addressed beforehand, failing to establish a proper lookout, speeding, causing too great of a wake, etc. No matter the cause of the accident, an attorney can help you get to the bottom of it, and determine who is liable for your damages.
Call a Fort Myers Boat Accident Lawyer
Boating accidents range in severity from moderate to severe to catastrophic. If you or a loved one was injured, or a loved one was killed, there are certain damages that the at-fault boat operator or owner is obligated to pay. It is not acceptable for you to have to pay for your own medical expenses when another party caused your injuries. Call the Fort Myers boat accident lawyers at Cardinal Law, P.A. today at 844-874-PAIN to schedule a free consultation.
