Florida Boating Accident Lawyer
Florida has more registered boats than almost any other state, and South Florida’s waterways, from the Intracoastal to the open Atlantic, are crowded year-round. Muggeo & Associates, with an office in Fort Lauderdale, represents people injured in boating, personal watercraft, charter, and water sports accidents.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
- Operator inattention and failure to keep a proper lookout
- Excessive speed in crowded or no-wake areas
- Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Inexperienced operators and rental boat accidents
- Wakes and collisions with other vessels or fixed objects
- Equipment failure and inadequate safety equipment
- Dangerous weather conditions
Who May Be Responsible
Depending on the facts, responsibility may fall on the boat operator, the owner, a charter or rental company, a marina, or the manufacturer of a defective boat or engine. Florida requires many boat operators to complete boater safety education, and rental companies have their own obligations to instruct renters.
Maritime Law May Apply
Accidents on navigable waters are often governed by federal maritime law, which has its own rules on liability, damages, and deadlines. Boat owners may also try to use a federal law that allows them to seek to limit their liability to the value of the vessel. These cases require quick action because some maritime deadlines are very short.
Florida Rules
When Florida law applies, the 2023 tort reform changes, including a shorter deadline for most negligence claims and a bar on recovery if the injured person is more than 50% at fault, may affect your case. Learn more on our Fort Lauderdale personal injury page.
What to Do After a Boating Accident
- Get medical care immediately.
- Report the accident. Serious boating accidents in Florida must be reported to law enforcement, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigates many of them.
- Get names, boat registration numbers, and insurance information.
- Photograph the vessels, the scene, and your injuries.
- Get names of witnesses and passengers.
Learn more about our boating accident practice.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
Call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or send us a message. Our Florida office is at 160 SE 9th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines change and depend on the facts of each case. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.