If you suffered injuries in a Gainesville boating accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation. An accident attorney with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you seek awards for your medical care, vessel damages, and more.
Reach out to learn more during a free, no-obligation consultation. We are a contingency firm, which means we can start working on your case with no upfront fees. We only get paid if we secure a settlement or verdict in your favor.
We Can Help You Fight for Financial Awards
Our boating accident lawyers can help you seek compensation for your medical treatment, personal property damages, pain and suffering, and lost wages. This may include awards for:
- Surgical procedures
- Hospitalizations
- Physical and cognitive rehabilitation
- Mobility aids and medical devices
- Nursing care
- Back wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Chronic pain
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Vessel repairs and/or replacement
If your loved one died due to a boating accident, you can seek personal injury damages on their behalf. Additionally, Florida Statutes §768.21 allows surviving family members to seek compensation for their pain and suffering, and the loss of the deceased’s support, services, and financial contributions.
How much Compensation Can You Win?
How much your case is worth will depend on various factors, such as the seriousness of your injuries, the extent of your past and future medical needs, and how long you are out of work. If your injuries are severe, you could face losses amounting to tens of thousands of dollars or more.
For example, according to HealthCare.gov, the average cost of a three-day hospital stay can add up to around $30,000. Even with health insurance, you will owe a percentage of your care, your deductible, and uncovered expenses. Our attorneys can help you calculate what you may recover using:
- Your medical bills and records
- Receipts for vessel repairs or other damaged property
- Your wage records
- Estimates of the cost of your future medical needs
- Receipts for medical devices and/or mobility aids
- The value of your employment benefits
- Receipts for travel related to your medical care
We Can Help You Hold Reckless Boaters Responsible for their Negligence
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida law states that all boaters “are responsible for operating their vessel in a reasonable and prudent manner with regard for other vessel traffic, posted restrictions, the presence of a divers-down flag, and other circumstances so as not to endanger people outside of the vessel or property.” Failing to adhere is considered “careless operation.”
We can help you prove another boater’s negligence led to your injuries. We will interview eyewitnesses, obtain expert opinions, and gather photographs and video footage pertaining to your accident.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
According to the FWC’s 2020 Boating Accident Statistical Report, collision with another vessel is the state’s leading cause of boating accidents. The report also found that nearly 25 percent of boating accidents involve alcohol or drug use. Other common causes include:
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Failure to obey navigational rules (e.g., the waterway “rules of the road”)
- Dangerous or rough waters
- Waves and wakes
- Collision with a submerged or fixed object
- Weather conditions
- Equipment failure and/or lack of safety equipment
Our lawyers can help you investigate your Gainesville-area boating accident and get to the bottom of what caused your injuries. Whether it is operator error, vessel issues, or problems with the waterway, we will help you seek compensation from every available channel.
Florida Does Not Require Boating Insurance
Boat owners and operators in Florida are not legally required to carry liability insurance. However, if the boater who is at fault for your crash has optional insurance, we can assist you with seeking a settlement. We will:
- Draft and send your demand letter
- Prove negligence on the liable party’s behalf
- File your paperwork according to deadlines
- Look over your settlement offers
- Reject low offers and negotiate for a more advantageous outcome
If an Insurance Agent Contacts You, Refer them to Your Attorney
If an insurance representative calls you, provide them with only the most basic information, such as your name, address, and the date of your accident. Do not accept blame for your injuries, discuss fault, accept any offers, or give details about your accident.
Remain calm and polite, but firmly tell the insurance agency that future contact should go through your lawyer. We will handle communications on your behalf. This saves you time and energy while also protecting you from saying something the insurance company could use against you.
If a Settlement is not an Option, We Can Help You Take Legal Action
If the party responsible for your accident does not have insurance or your claim is underpaid or denied, we can help you file a civil lawsuit. You must file your personal injury case within four years of your accident, per Florida Statutes §95.11(3)(a). If you are suing for the wrongful death of a loved one, you have two years to file from their death date under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d).
In general, if your window of time runs out, you cannot pursue your lawsuit. However, there could be exceptions that could reduce or extend your time limit. Our attorneys can tell you more about how the statute of limitations may affect your case.
We Go the Extra Mile for Our Clients
Our service to our clients is our firm’s top priority. We know how important your case is to you, and we never want to leave you in the dark. We will:
- Give you your attorney’s phone number
- Respond to calls and emails
- Provide you with case updates regularly
- Answer your questions
When you choose the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, you get responsive legal care. We can even help you schedule your appointments and get your vessel repaired.
Review Your Legal Options During a Free Case Evaluation
To help you get back on your feet after your boating accident, we offer legal counsel at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us today to talk with a team member about how our lawyer serving Gainesville may be able to help you. The call and consultation are free.
We Can Help.
