Daytona Beach Boat Accident Lawyer

Florida is a leading state for the most registered boating vessels in the U.S., and Daytona Beach is a favored boating destination thanks to its numerous waterways and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Boating is an enriching pastime but can also be highly dangerous. Unfortunately, boating accidents are not uncommon, and they can cause tremendous injuries and harm.

Did a boating accident leave you injured? If so, the attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet may help. If your accident happened because of someone’s negligent behavior or a boating manufacturing defect, you could recover financial compensation for your losses.

Boat accidents can disrupt your life, creating financial pressure and health problems. It can feel like no one sees or hears you. At Zimmet & Zimmet, we have been serving Daytona Beach since 1975 as a reputable and reliable boat accident law firm. Our lawyers emphasize a client-focused approach that centers on your well-being, so we can help you recover and rebuild after an accident on the waterways.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a boat accident lawyer in Daytona Beach.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney for My Boat Accident Claim?

Florida boating laws have regulations and statutes quite different from those governing automobiles. Boat accident victims need an attorney who understands these rules and how they can affect personal injury claims. Moreover, the insurance claims process can be difficult for victims of Florida boating accidents.

At Zimmet & Zimmet, our attorneys have extensive experience working with boat accident claims. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and counter any efforts to deny your claim inappropriately or underpay you.

Most claims are settled between the parties and don’t go to trial. Taking a case to court is stress-inducing and costly, but in situations where the insurance company isn’t cooperative, going to court can be the only way to pursue compensation for your losses. If insurance companies are non-responsive or unreasonably delay payments, our attorneys can present your case before the court in a formal lawsuit.

What Should I Do If I Am Involved in a Boating Accident?

If you are in a boating accident, the first thing you should do is contact the authorities. Florida law requires boat operators to contact local authorities when a boating accident results in death, injury, or at least $2,000 in property damage.

Next, you need to get medical treatment for your injuries. Adrenaline and shock after boating accidents can mask injuries, so it’s best to see a doctor as soon as you can, even if your injuries seem minor. A doctor’s records are part of the medical documentation you’ll need to make an insurance claim.

After seeing a doctor, you can contact a Daytona Beach boat accident lawyer from Zimmet & Zimmet. We can discuss your case with you, advise you on the best way to obtain compensation, and gather all the necessary evidence before filing a claim on your behalf. If the insurance company is not responsive to your demands or otherwise mismanages your claim, our lawyers can initiate a boat accident lawsuit against the at-fault party.

What Compensation Could I Recover from a Boat Accident?

Boat accident compensation reimburses victims for their losses. You can divide losses into two types: economic and non-economic. Economic losses are those that have a definite monetary value, such as:

Non-economic losses are a bit more abstract and consist of those losses without an explicit dollar amount, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium

Insurance companies and attorneys have several ways to calculate the value of non-economic losses. One common method they use is to multiply economic damages by a number between one and five, depending on the severity of your injuries. If your injuries included a catastrophic brain injury or resulted in total paralysis, the multiplier would be a five. Unlike some states, Florida does not cap compensation for non-economic losses for boating accidents.

There are complex laws that surround finding other sources of recovery beyond the at-fault drivers’ insurance policy. It is extremely important to hire an experienced lawyer who not only understands how to find other sources of recovery but will leave no stone unturned during the investigation to find them. Many times this is the difference between no recovery and recovering millions of dollars.

Zimmet & Zimmet has an established track record of recovering compensation for our clients. Our strategy is simple: We ask for the maximum compensation and argue thoroughly for your claim using solid evidence to prove its value. A boat accident can leave you with tens of thousands in unexpected bills, and you should not be on the hook for those expenses when someone else caused the accident. Our lawyers can assess your losses to determine an appropriate compensation figure and will fight against attempts to minimize your settlement.

What Are the Florida Boating Laws?

Florida has several rules and regulations regarding boat operation. If you sustain a boat accident injury while disregarding the rules, it could negatively affect any financial compensation you pursue.

The following are some common Florida boating rules and regulations all operators must adhere to:

• Boats greater than 16 feet in length must have registration within 30 days of their purchase.
• All boaters must obey posted speed and wake limits.
• All boat operators must be over the age of 14.
• Boating under the influence of drugs or with a BAC of over 0.08 percent is illegal.
• All boaters must operate their vessels reasonably and prudently with awareness of other boaters and water traffic.
• Operators and passengers must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while the boat is in operation.
• Reckless operation of a boat is a first-degree misdemeanor.
• Boat operators born before January 1, 1988, must carry a boating education ID card.
• Recreational boaters must display lights during the night and during weather that affects visibility.
• Boaters must not maneuver their vessels to block others’ navigation.
• Boaters must not operate vessels with unsafe loads or loads over their maximum capacity.

What Are Common Causes of Boating Accidents?

Boating accidents include boat-on-boat collisions, collisions with other watercraft users (e.g., jet skiers), and boat-infrastructure crashes (e.g., colliding with a pier). Because boats are large vessels and don’t have brakes, they cannot slow down rapidly like cars can. Many boating accidents result from unsafe handling or operation.

Common causes of boating accidents in Florida include:

Boating accidents can also happen because of product failures or inherently unsafe boat designs. Often, accidents can have multiple causes. Our job as boating accident attorneys is to determine the causes of the accident that injured you and to discover who is responsible.

What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Boating Accident?

Even a minor boating accident can cause catastrophic injuries and property damage. Examples of common injuries from boating collisions include:

Additionally, drowning and hypothermia are possible outcomes when a boat strikes someone or when boaters fall into the water during or after an accident. Unsafe boat design can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning as engine exhaust builds up in the cabin and underneath the deck.