"Fun in the Sun" is the way of life in South Florida.  It is the perfect place to own a boat - beautiful clear water, great snorkeling and scuba diving, sand bars, and world-classfishing.   Unfortunately, boating accidents, including recreational boats, sailboats, jet skis, yachts, tow boats, and cruise ships are very common.  Fun, sun, drinks, relaxed attitude, and sometimes, inexperienced drivers can be a recipe for disaster.  

Collisions with other vessels are the most common type of accidents involving boats.  Collisions may cause a vessel to capsize, flood, catch fire, or explode.  Careless boat operators can result in swimmers, skiers, snorkelers, and scuba divers getting hit by a vessel or cut by propellers.  Reckless behavior on the water can also cause passengers to get injured by falling overboard, and in some cases, it may be discovered that there is a design defect in the vessel or defective equipment that caused an accident.

Call The Law Offices of Reese Harvey today at (561) 691-4511 for a free, no obligation consultation.  Learn more about your legal rights and how to proceed with your case.

BOATING ACCIDENT FAQs

• What are the major causes of recreational watercraft accidents?  The major causes of boating accidents are operator inattention, careless/reckless boat operation, excessive speed, inappropriate passenger/skier behavior, inexperienced operator, alcohol and drugs, improper lookout, defective boating equipment, vessel design defect, and failure to follow Florida's boating safetly laws. 
• What kind of injuries can happen to people on cruise ships?  Cruise ships are the source of many injuries.  Cruise ships are like floating towns and present a host of hazards to passengers.  Slick passageways can lead to slip and fall injuries.  Inadequate lighting, loose handrails, and improperly maintained floors can also contribute to serious falls.  Many other unexpected things can go wrong on a cruise, including improperly prepared food, poor medical treatment, and even assaults by other passengers or ship staff.  Onshore excursions and tours are additional places where you may get injured.
• What should I do if I've been injured on a cruise ship?  If you are injured on a cruise ship it is important to act quickly.  Most cruise lines include terms in the passenger's ticket that limit the amount of time to bring a claim - usually requiring the claim to be brought within six months from the date of injury.  This is significantly shorter than the normal statute of limitations for injuries.  It is also important to act quickly to ensure that the evidence is not "lost". 

* The answers to these questions are not legal or medical advice and should not be relied upon or used as a basis for any particular course of action.  Feel free to call The Law Offices of Reese Harvey.  We will be happy to answer your questions and explain your rights.