Fort Myers Boat Accident Lawyer
Florida attracts all types of water users. Swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders, jet skis, speed boats, sport fishing boats, and commercial boat traffic all have to share many of the same waterways. This diverse user range creates an environment in which speeds and courses greatly differ. A jet ski may be making figure eights at high speed while a 25 horse power fishing boat slowly trolls at five knots an hour in a straight line. Stand up paddle boarders are moving slow and steady under human power, and are vulnerable to large wakes and the speed and size of motor boats towing wakeboarders and inner tubers. On the highway, albeit a dangerous place, all of the vehicles travel at roughly the same speed, although size differences do cause safety issues. Because of the vast differences and widely varying reasons that boats, jet skis, and other watercraft are out on the water, conflict can and does occur at a frequent rate, especially in the sometimes crowded waterways of Fort Myers.
If you have been in a boating collision, you should treat it no differently than if it was a crash between two cars. In almost all “accidents,” one or more parties could have operated their watercraft in a manner that would have avoided the collision. Driver error is almost always the cause of crashes, both on and off the water. Contact a lawyer at once to discuss the damages you have suffered and your options to make a financial recovery. The negligent party should be held liable to pay for your medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and lost income. Contact our experienced Fort Myers boat accident lawyers today.
How Boat and Jet Ski and Other Watercraft Collisions Occur
When boat operators fail to constantly scan the water for other users, especially swimmers and smaller watercraft, they are putting themselves and others in danger. Failing to provide a proper lookout, not using a life jacket, and consuming alcohol while boating are the three most critical mistakes made and are on the top of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s list of preventable measure to take. While the vast majority of accidental injuries and deaths are caused by operator error, such as inexperience, failed lookout, excessive speed, alcohol use, and other negligent acts, some accidents are, in fact, caused by equipment failure or malfunction. In 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that, nationally, there were 50 electrical system failures, 107 engine failures, 27 fuel system failures, 24 throttle failures, and many more mechanical issues that lead to injuries and fatalities.
Contact our Fort Myers Boat Accident Lawyers Today
As such, it is important to enlist the services of an experienced boat and jet ski lawyer that has the knowledge and resources to fully investigate the cause of the crash. We need to be able to prove that the negligence of the other operator, or the failure of a crucial piece of machinery, was responsible for the collision in order to seek the financial damages. If you were involved in a boating accident, contact The Pendas Law Firm at 1-844-200-0000 today to discuss your options with one of our experienced Fort Myers boat and jet ski accident lawyers. We will help you immediately.
