Pensacola Boat DUI Accident Lawyer
Boating is a very popular activity in Pensacola. Spending a day with friends and family on the water often includes fishing, swimming, sharing stories, and even consuming alcohol. Drinking while onboard a vessel is not against the law for either boat passengers or those who operate the watercraft. However, while still operating the boat, the person doing so is prohibited from becoming intoxicated. When a boat operator is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and they cause a crash, they may face serious criminal penalties. These will do little for accident victims, though.
If you or someone you love has been injured by an intoxicated boat operator, you can file a lawsuit against them to obtain compensation for your medical expenses and more. To obtain the full damages you deserve, it is important to work with our Pensacola boat DUI accident lawyer.
Boat DUI Criminal Cases vs. Boat DUI Accident Cases
Anyone criminally convicted of a boat DUI will face serious consequences, including potentially up to six months in jail. Convicted individuals will also have to pay a fine up to $500, even for a first offense. The fine paid, though, goes to the state, not to the accident victims that are left with serious losses. In order to obtain compensation for these losses, injured individuals must file a civil claim against the intoxicated boat operator.
To obtain compensation, you must file a civil claim with the boat operator’s insurance company, or directly against the operator. When proving your claim, you must only show by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that you do not have to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt, as prosecutors do during criminal cases. It only means that you must show that the boat operator likely caused the accident because they were intoxicated.
Damages Available in a Boat DUI Accident Case
Personal injury claims are meant to restore you as wholly as possible to the condition you were in before the accident. As such, you can include within your claim any loss you sustained. Some of the most common damages included in boat DUI accident claims include:
- Medical expenses, including hospitalizations, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and transportation to and from doctors’ appointments
- Lost income, including lost bonuses, benefits, vacation pay, and sick pay
- Loss of earning capacity, if you can never return to the same line of work after the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Property damages
A Pensacola boat DUI accident lawyer can review the facts of your case and accurately value your claim to make sure you receive the full damages you are entitled to.
Our Boat DUI Accident Lawyer in Pensacola Can Value Your Claim
Many people do not realize the full value of their boat accident claim. At The Law Offices of Frank D. Butler, P.A., our Pensacola boat DUI accident lawyer will calculate all of your current and future losses so you recover the fair settlement that is justly yours. Call us now at 888-262-8529 or reach out to us online to talk to our experienced attorney today.
