Sarasota Boat Crash Lawyer
Recreational boating is a popular pastime in Sarasota, and many residents own boats while many visitors to the area plan to rent vessels in order to get out on the water. Although recreational boating is enjoyable, it can also be hazardous. Indeed, boat crashes happen with some frequency. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a total of 469 people were injured in boating accidents in Florida in 2021, and 60 people died. Sarasota boating crashes often happen because another party was negligent. Parties who may be negligent, and therefore liable for boating accident injuries, often include a vessel operator, a boat mechanic, a designer of a boat or one of its components, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its components, or a retailer of a boat. Contact our experienced Sarasota boat crash lawyer today.
Florida Boating Fatalities Are Common in Sarasota
Serious and deadly injuries happen more often than you might think when it comes to boating crashes. While most of us think about boating as a fun recreational activity that gives operators and passengers time in the sun while enjoying the water, negligent behavior such as speeding or drinking alcohol can quickly turn a day of boating into a dangerous and deadly experience. According to the Florida FWC, Florida has more boating fatalities than any other state in the U.S. The greatest number of deadly boating crashes in Florida occur in May, but there are also high rates of boating crash deaths in August, as well as in December and January. The Florida FWC identifies the following as the most common cause of fatal boat crashes:
- Falls overboard;
- Collision with another vessel;
- Capsizing;
- Collision with a fixed object;
- Flooding, or swamping;
- Operating or passenger falling in the boat; and
- Accident or collision involving a water skier or tuber on the back of a boat.
When it comes to serious but nonfatal injuries, the majority of injuries occurred because of impact with the boat. Impact with the boat is often caused by a collision with another vessel, or by a collision with a fixed object. In some cases, people who sustain nonfatal injuries get hurt when they are struck by another vessel while they are water skiing or tubing.
How to File a Sarasota Boat Crash Lawsuit
In order to file a boat crash lawsuit in Sarasota, you should get in touch with a boating crash attorney in Sarasota who can assist you. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit following your own injuries in a boat crash, you will need to do so either within four years from the date of the original boat crash, or within a much shorter period if you must file a maritime claim. If you lost a loved one in a boat crash, you will need to plan to file a wrongful death claim within two years from the date of your loved one’s death. Keep in mind that the personal representative of the deceased’s estate must be the one to file a wrongful death lawsuit, although surviving family members can recover damages.
Contact Frank D. Butler Today
If you need assistance with a boat crash claim, an attorney can help you. Contact our experienced Sarasota boat crash lawyer today.
