Damages in Boat Accident Cases

Miami Attorneys Helping Injured Victims Seek Compensation

Florida is surrounded by water, and is home to various lakes as well as intercoastal waterways, where local residents and tourists enjoy a wide variety of boating activities. This large number of boat passengers means that there is a greater risk that a boating accident may occur. These accidents come in various forms, from collisions between two vessels to slip-and-fall accidents onboard. If you’ve been hurt or a loved one has died under these kinds of circumstances, you may be entitled to damages in a boat accident case, and the team at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you determine what your legal options are. We assist clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties with investigation into the cause of an accident, identifying the responsible parties, gathering evidence, and evaluating each claim to ensure victims’ legal rights are protected and properly advocated for. Miami boat accident lawyer Robert Dixon represents injured victims and families throughout South Florida. If you have questions regarding your legal rights, contact our office to set up a free, no obligation consultation.

Liability for Boat Accident Injuries

For a victim who has been hurt or family who has lost a loved one in a boat accident to be awarded compensation, it must first be shown that a defendant or defendants were negligent. Negligence involves a party’s breach of reasonable care owed to another person, which causes that person’s injury or death, and therefore results in damages. Boat operators, owners, staff, and others have a duty to maintain a vessel in a way that ensures the safety of passengers, as well as a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would in their jobs or certain situations. Breaches of these duties that could lead to injuries, and indicate negligence, include failure to warn boat occupants of dangerous areas, a boat operator being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or lack of proper safety equipment on board. Once negligence is established, victims may be awarded damages for various costs associated with their harm.

Damages in Boat Accident Cases

When a victim is involved in a boat accident, they may sustain injuries such as head or brain trauma, broken bones, internal bleeding, and even paralysis or amputations. Costs related to these types of injuries can become exponential and go well beyond any insurance policy benefits that may apply. As such, victims of these accidents may need to seek compensation through a lawsuit, and a knowledgeable boat accident attorney can help.

Generally, plaintiffs can be awarded both economic and noneconomic damages in boat accident cases. Economic damages refer to those costs that are more easily verifiable numerically, such as past medical expenses related to hospital stays, doctor visits, any rehabilitation, and other related expenses. Anticipated medical costs associated with a victim’s injuries can also be calculated based on medical expert testimony and evidence related to the general costs of care for the type of injury sustained. Lost income due to time missed from work as well as any changes to a victim’s ability to work in the future are also quantifiable economic damages. In wrongful death lawsuits, economic damages include burial or funeral costs and any remaining medical bills that relate to the injuries that resulted in the victim’s death. Non-economic damages refer to the less verifiable costs such as those that involve pain and suffering or loss of support of a deceased loved one.

Miami Lawyers Assisting Boat Accident Victims

When a boat accident is caused by another’s negligent acts, victims and families who have lost loved ones may be entitled to financial compensation. Attorney Robert Dixon is dedicated to making sure these victims pursue the financial aid they need to get through such a difficult time. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a fatality as a result of an accident on the water, please call the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at (877) 499-4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to find out more about how we can help. We represent clients in areas including Miami, and West Palm Beach.

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"Thank you to Robert Dixon & Kristopher Torres for an amazing experience handling with my first injury lawsuit. Very much hassle-free and down to earth experience working with this law firm. I would definitely use them again! My case was settled and I am satisfied with the results! Glad to have them fighting on my behalf." Diamond Epps
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"I had the pleasure of working with attorney Torres when I was involved in a car accident last year. He was always checking up on me, always making sure that I was getting the proper treatment that I needed. Whenever I called the office everyone was so nice and willing to help me. I'm glad he was my attorney and thank you for such a wonderful service from you and your firm." Natalie J.
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"I'd like to say that the Law Office of Robert Dixon has been great to work with since the inception of my case back in 2016. Robert and team made me feel rest assured that patience would constitute a much larger settlement and that truly was the case. ... I highly recommend this law firm for anyone needing help from a very compassionate team of hard workers. Thanks again everyone for this positive experience as this was my first time ever dealing with the courts or a law firm...." Paul Carlson
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