Hillsborough County Boat Accident Lawyer

Hillsborough County Boating Accident Attorney

Boating is an extremely popular year-round pastime here in Florida, and for good reason. Boating can be relaxing, and invigorating, and the weather here is perfect for it. While boating is generally safe, this is not always the case, and if you’ve been injured in a Florida boat accident, you must hire an experienced boat accident lawyer in Hillsborough County to fight for your rightful compensation. According to a report released by the United States Coast Guard, Florida has been the leading state in boat accidents from 2015 to 2019. In 2019 alone, there were 679 boating deaths. From 2015 to 2019, Florida has seen at least 600 recreational boating deaths per year. These are harrowing numbers, and the unfortunate reality is that most of these deaths were entirely preventable, as boating accidents are generally a result of negligence. If you are a boat accident victim, you must continue reading and contact The Frank Santini Law Firm today.

Our Hillsborough County Boat Accident Lawyer | Fighting for Your Rights

No injured passenger should have to deal with the unwarranted repercussions of a serious boat accident injury on their own. Our Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer has significant experience handling boat accident claims, and he is ready to put that experience to work for you.

Common Causes of Boat Accidents

For the most part, boats are safe, however, there are various factors that can all contribute to boat accidents in Florida. Some of the most common causes of boat accidents that our firm sees are as follows:

• Boat operator inexperience
• Faulty boat parts (either due to a negligent part designer/manufacturer or due to a boat owner’s failure to adequately maintain his or her boat)
• Boating at excessive speeds
• Boating in poor weather conditions, such as thunderstorms or torrential downpours
• Colliding with fixed objects
• Colliding with other boats
• Failing to have the necessary safety equipment on board (such as life vests)
• Operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Boat operators taking part in any other type of unsafe or negligent conduct that endangers others

Recovering Compensation

After a boat accident, you should do everything you can to document the incident, including taking pictures/videos of the accident, seeking medical treatment, calling authorities to the scene of the accident, and more. In many cases, there is more than one passenger aboard, so it is critical that you have the other passengers’ contact information so they may corroborate your claim at a later date. As long as you and your Tampa personal injury attorney can prove that you were injured as a direct result of another party’s negligence in your boat accident, you will most likely recover compensation for two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and other financial expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your accident. Non-economic damages cover the cost of emotional damages, such as pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Florida is four years, and boat accidents are no exception. While you may think it would be best to simply wait and see if your injuries heal on your own, this is seldom a good decision, for if you wait too long and surpass the four-year statute of limitations, there is a very good chance that you will be permanently time-barred from suing.

Contact our Hillsborough County Boat Accident Lawyer

Boat riding is extremely popular in Florida, and unfortunately, boat accidents are not rare. If you’ve been injured in a boat accident and require the services of a knowledgeable Hillsborough County boat accident lawyer, look no further than The Frank Santini Law Firm. Contact our firm today so we can get started.