Bradenton Boat Accident Attorneys
Florida is a wonderful place to live. Our beautiful weather and landscapes make our state a paradise for people who love outdoor activities, especially those that take place on the water. Boating, done safely, can be an extraordinary hobby. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong on the water, resulting in boating accidents. When you are injured by someone else’s negligence in a boating accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Seek experienced legal counsel from our Bradenton boat accident attorneys.
Boating Accident Attorneys Explain Serious Injury Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks some statistics related to boating accidents. According to the agency’s numbers, 3,358 people were injured and 736 people died in boating accidents in 2009. Almost three out of four of the people who were killed in these accidents drowned. Of those who drowned in those accidents, 9 out of 10 were not wearing life jackets. When a boat owner or manager fails to provide enough life jackets for all of the passengers on a boat, the results can be catastrophic.
In addition to the CDC numbers, the United States Coast Guard also keeps track of recreational boating accidents and fatalities and their causes. One of the most common causes of boating accidents is boating while intoxicated. The Coast Guard states that over half of recreational boating deaths involve alcohol use. They cite research that shows that a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10 is ten times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than his or her sober counterpart. This is in part because the conditions on the water can amplify the effects of alcohol on a person. These conditions include things like wind, sun, boat motion, noise, and vibrations. This means that intoxicated boat operators can cause serious injury or even death.
Experienced Bradenton Boating Accident Attorneys
In order to prove that you are entitled to compensation after a boating accident, there are four things you must prove. The Bradenton boat accident attorneys will be able to help this process. First, you must prove that someone had a duty to you. This could be something as simple as a duty to follow boating safety laws and procedures, or a duty to maintain the boat and related equipment in a safe manner. Next, you must prove what is called a “breach” of that duty. Basically that means that you must show that the person who owed you the duty did not fulfill that duty. Having a duty and breaching it is the essence of negligence. The final two steps are best explained together: causation and damages. Basically you must show that you were actually injured in some way, and that your injuries were caused by the other person’s negligence. These four steps make the the basis of any negligence claim in a personal injury or wrongful death claim, which are the most common types of claims you would make after a boating accident.
If you have been injured in a boating accident, contact the Bradenton boating accident attorneys. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. We represent victims in various types of personal injury accidents including motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, uninsured motorists, and truck accidents. Seek the help of experienced Bradenton boating accident lawyer. Call the Romero Law Firm at 877-ROMERO-1.
