Recent Blog Posts
The Minimum Age to Operate a Jetski in Florida Is 14 and Other Rules
The minimum age to operate a Jetski (a/k/a personal water craft or PWC) is 14. This is found in Florida Statute 327.39. Some other rules are that the driver of the PWC must wear a life vest while operating the PWC. The driver must also employ a lanyard type engine cutoff switch. (Commonly referred… Read More »
Can a Vessel Be Arrested?
The answer to the question is Yes, even a vessel as large as a cruise ship can be arrested. A second question might be, “Why would anyone arrest a vessel?” The general maritime law of the U.S. provides that a vessel can be held responsible for its debts. This means that when an owner… Read More »
Can I Cancel My Cruise Because of Covid-19?
As of January 13, 2022 each of the cruise lines has different policies on this. It is no surprise that the cruise lines are not looking to give back money. Here are some considerations for you if you need to cancel a cruise or have been advised to cancel by a doctor. First, the… Read More »
Cruiseship Injury Specialists: Scoreboard
The world is full of talkers isn’t it? There are far fewer doers than talkers and that is prevalent throughout all facets of life. This is why it is amusing to us at 888-BOAT-LAW, a maritime law firm for more than 25 years helping injured clients, that some attorneys must think that “saying” they… Read More »
Can I Get Punitive Damages Against a DUI Boat Operator in Florida
Yes, Florida law holds boat operators to the same standard as automobile operators. It is illegal to operate a boat in Florida with a blood alcohol limit of .08 or greater. Boating under the influence, also known as “BUI” is covered by Florida Statute 327.35. Penalties for a Boat DUI in Florida Include the… Read More »
Florida Boating Accidents in 2020
Florida Boating Accidents in 2020 Florida just released its boating crash statistics for the year 2020—the most recent data available. 402 of the total 836 boating accidents involved collisions in 2020. 44% of those boating crashes involved inattention or failing to keep a proper lookout. Responsibility to keep a lookout is Rule 5 of… Read More »
What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Cruise Ship Injury Case
It depends upon the facts of your case. That’s why you need to consult a maritime attorney about your cruise ship injury case. In most cases it is a 1-year statute of limitations, but again this depends upon the facts of your case. Don’t guess. Call to talk about your case. Keep in mind… Read More »
Boat Crashes in Florida
Why Are There So Many Boating Accidents in Florida? Because of the prolific number of boats in Florida. Because of the lack of training required by Florida. Because of the violations of safe boating laws. 1. Florida has more registered boats than any other state, including California or Texas. Almost 1million boats are registered… Read More »
Boat Insurance Denials
Boating Insurance Denials in Florida Boating insurance denials happen for several reasons. But, at the heart of them all is the same thing: Your insurance company does not want to pay your claim. If your boating insurance company has denied your claim in Florida, you may be in luck. We fight boating insurance denials…. Read More »
Peer-to-Peer Boating Injuries
Peer-to-Peer Boating Injuries in Florida Who is responsible for boating injuries when the vessel is a peer-to-peer boat rental or part of a boat-sharing agreement? In Florida, it depends upon where the injuries occurred, and in turn whether maritime law applies. Find yourself a good maritime attorney because most of these cases will involve… Read More »