Largo Boating Accident Lawyer

your fight is our fight
We are a Florida law firm that will fight for you during those most difficult times. Let us do the hard work for you and get you the justice you deserve.
Free Consultations
Tampa Florida

request a consultation

Fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch with you right away.

By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Mickey Keenan PA. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Largo’s waterways are a major attraction for tourists and Florida residents alike. Intended to be a fun day out, a boating adventure can quickly become life-threatening. In a recent year, Florida experienced 735 boating accidents, resulting in 65 fatalities.

Our Largo boating accident lawyers understand the physical and emotional pain that accompanies a boating accident. Our legal team will do whatever it takes to investigate the cause of your boating accident and recover the compensation that is rightfully yours.

Causes of Boating Accidents

The rate of boating accidents increases in the summer due to more people traveling out in the open waters. Major contributing factors have been identified as the following:

Operator Inattention

Boat operators not paying attention to the path of the boat or failing to see another ship can result in a collision.

Operator Inexperience

In a single year, boat operator experience contributed to 612 accidents. If the boat operator does not have sufficient training, the likelihood of having an accident grows. Driving a boat is complicated, and you must be familiar with how to shift gears and how much stopping distance is required to safely transport passengers.

Improper Lookout

The boat captain is responsible for watching out for potential hazards. An improper lookout may be due to an obstructed view from the helm. It is the captain or boat operator’s duty to look out for swimmers, other boats, buoys, and debris in the water. The boat captain should also monitor the height and aggressiveness of the waves to avoid capsizing.

Excessive Speed

Unlike driving, most open waters do not have posted speed limits. However, speeding does increase your chances of coming too close to other boats and vessels, which endangers other water users.

Alcohol and Drug Use

In a single year, there were 260 boating injuries that were the result of a boat operator being under the influence. All states, including Florida, make it against the law to operate any boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As is the law for vehicle drivers, Florida law makes it illegal for a boat operator to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. If someone is operating under the influence, the United States Coast Guard and law enforcement officers can arrest the individual.

Compensatory Damages

If you have suffered injuries in a boating accident, you may be eligible to recover damages. Damages are intended to make the injured party “whole” again. Personal injury victims may be entitled to both economic and noneconomic damages.

Economic damages are those losses that have a financial impact on your life, making them easily calculable. These may include:

Conversely, you may be entitled to compensation for non-financial losses, known as noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages may affect your ability to live a normal life, including:

Speak with a Largo Boating Accident Lawyer Immediately

A boating accident often has devastating consequences. Injury victims only have two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim.

We understand that taking your case to court can be intimidating. That is where we can help. Our Largo boating accident lawyers at Mickey Keenan P.A. are here to answer any questions you may have. Contact us online or by calling 813-534-6913 to learn more.