Sarasota Boat Rental Accident Lawyer
Nobody expects to rent a boat and to be involved in a serious or deadly boating accident in Sarasota. To be sure, boat rentals are extremely common in Sarasota and throughout Southwest Florida, and renting a vessel gives many residents and tourists an opportunity to enjoy the various waterways in and around Sarasota. At the same time, another party’s negligence can quickly result in a debilitating boat accident and injury. If you were injured in a boat accident that involved a rented vessel in Sarasota, it is critical to work with an attorney who has experience handling maritime injury cases and rental boat accident claims in particular. While boat accident lawsuits have some similarities to other types of injury cases, they have many particularities that require an advocate who has handled these types of claims in the past. Contact our experienced Sarasota boat rental accident lawyer today.
How Boat Rental Accidents Happen in Sarasota
In order to rent a boat in Sarasota, you may need to provide your driver’s license, or you may even need to show that you have a Boating Safety Education ID card. As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) underscores, a very high number of boating accidents in the state result in part from inexperience operating a vessel and a lack of boating safety knowledge. Regardless of whether a person has taken a boating safety course, Florida law requires that anyone who operates a vessel in Florida — including someone who rents a boat — must “operate the vessel in a reasonable and prudent manner” at all times.
When a vessel operator fails to act in a reasonable and prudent manner, they can be responsible for their negligence if they cause an accident. In addition, people who rent boats can be injured because of another vessel operator’s negligence or because of another party’s negligence altogether. Parties who are commonly liable for boat rental accidents include but are not limited to:
- Person operating a boat, including either the rental boat or another vessel;
- Business that rents out boats;
- Company responsible for designing, manufacturing, or selling a boat involved in the accident;
- Person who negligently provided a boater safety course; and/or
- Employee at the boat rental company responsible for checking and maintaining the safety of the vessels.
Common Types of Boat Rentals in Sarasota
Many different types of rental boats can be involved in serious and deadly accidents. The following are examples of boats that may be rented, and which can be involved in crashes and injuries in the Sarasota area:
- Kayaks;
- Canoes;
- Inflatable boats;
- Fishing boats;
- Sail boats;
- Motor boats;
- Air boats;
- Pedal boats;
- Rowboats; and
- Personal watercraft (PWC), include jet skis, WaveRunners, and Sea Doos.
Contact Frank D. Butler Today
If you were hurt in a boat accident involving a rental vessel, you may be eligible to file a claim against one or more parties. You could be eligible for compensation by filing an insurance claim, or you may need to move forward with a lawsuit. An attorney at our firm can provide you with more information about maritime law and how it may apply to your case. Contact our experienced Sarasota boat rental accident lawyer today.
