Florida Boat DUI Accident Lawyer
Spending the day on a boat is very fun and for many, it also means consuming alcoholic beverages while on the water. Under Florida law, boat operators and passengers alike are not prohibited from consuming alcohol. However, it is against the law for boat operators to become intoxicated while they are at the helm. If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk boat operator, you can likely file a claim against them to recover damages. Our Florida boat DUI accident lawyer explains more below.
Proving a Boat DUI Accident Case
If you have been hurt by an intoxicated boat operator, you can file a claim against them to recover financial compensation for your losses. To obtain the full damages you deserve, you must prove four elements of your case. These are as follows:
- Another boat operator owed you a duty of care to operate their vessel in a safe manner and without violating Florida’s boating and DUI laws,
- Another boat operator breached that duty of care by operating their vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
- The breach of duty caused a boating accident, and
- You sustained injuries and other losses that deserve compensation.
It is important to note that when proving your case, you must only do so through a preponderance of the evidence. This means you must only establish that it is most likely the other boat operator who caused the crash. Proving your case by a preponderance of the evidence is a much lower standard than beyond a reasonable doubt, which is used in criminal cases.
- Clearwater Boat DUI Accident
- Fort Myers Boat DUI Accident
- Pensacola Boat DUI Accident
- Sarasota Boat DUI Accident
- St. Petersburg Boat DUI Accident
Important Evidence in DUI Accident Cases
You will need evidence to prove your DUI accident case, but while you are trying to recover from serious injuries is not the time to collect it. A Florida boat DUI accident lawyer will know the evidence that is most important to your case and collect it for you to help build your case.
One of the first and most important pieces of evidence an attorney will collect is the report filed by the Coast Guard or other authorities who visited the scene of the accident. If the Coast Guard or police suspect that a boat operator is impaired, they will administer a test and include the results within the report, which can help establish the fact that it was a DUI accident. Authorities may also include their own observations within the report, such as if the operator was slurring their speech, had alcohol on their breath, or admitted to drinking.
Other evidence can include photos and video footage at the accident scene, eyewitness statements, and physical evidence, such as property damage.
Our Boat DUI Accident Lawyer in Florida Can Prove Your Case
You may think it is obvious that the boat operator who caused your accident was drunk, but proving that fact is never easy. At The Law Offices of Frank D. Butler, P.A., our Florida boat DUI accident lawyer can prove your case so you obtain the full and fair compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 888-262-8529 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our attorney today.
