Fort Walton Beach Boating Accident Lawyer

With more than 8,000 miles of shoreline, it’s no surprise that Florida has the highest number of registered watercraft in the country. Unfortunately, boating accidents are on the rise in Florida.

Okaloosa County, which includes Fort Walton Beach, is one of the top counties in Florida for boating accidents. Fifty-eight percent of the boating accidents in the state occur in just ten counties.

In 2020 in Okaloosa County, there were 31 boating accidents. That’s not a large number (especially compared to car accidents), many of those accidents result in injury or death.

Of those:

• More than half (16) resulted in injuries
• Two resulted in fatalities
• 17 involved personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis

The most common type of accident involved a collision with another vessel. The lack of boater education in the Sunshine State is startling. Over half (69%) of the watercraft operators involved in fatal accidents in Florida in 2020 had no boater education.

It depends completely on the facts of your specific case. We’ll be able to give you a better idea after a full case evaluation.

Some things that could affect the value of your case include:

• The type and extent of your injuries
• Whether you missed work due to your injuries
• Whether you’re expected to make a full recovery
• Whether you were at fault for the accident
• The extent of property damage

Accidents involving severe injury or death generally bring larger awards. We work diligently to determine all possible sources of recovery. We frequently hire experts to help calculate projected losses.

Generally, you’ll be able to seek damages in two categories: (1) economic; and (2) non-economic.

Economic damages cover monetary losses such as:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Rehabilitation costs

These are damages that help to make you financially whole after an accident.

Non-economic damages can include things like:

• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of ability to enjoy life activities
• PTSD

These types of damages won’t have a specific monetary value, but are nonetheless incredibly important to your quality of life.

In rare cases, punitive damages may be available. These are damages intended not to compensate you, but instead to punish the defendant for wrongdoing (and hopefully teach them a lesson).

Most likely, yes. As long as you aren’t mostly responsible for your accident, you can still recover some compensation.

Florida’s modified comparative fault statute will require your compensation to be reduced by the proportion of fault attributed to you. But, you’ll still be able to get something.

This is where it really pays off to have one of our attorneys at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers on your side. We’ll push back against unfair blame that could otherwise severely diminish your award.

Due to speed, lack of protective gear, and risk of drowning, boating accidents can result in catastrophic injuries or death.

Some common boating injuries are:

• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Contusions
• Brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Injuries to face/jaw/teeth
• Wrongful death

We work in conjunction with your medical professionals to get a clear understanding of the extent of your injuries. We fight tooth and nail for compensation to cover all of your expenses, including the cost of ongoing medical treatment.

Most boating accidents are preventable. They usually occur because someone was being careless.

The main causes of boating accidents in Okaloosa County are:

• Inattention/not having a proper lookout
• Operator inexperience
• Excessive speed
• General carelessness or recklessness
• Weather
• Violating navigational rules
• Machinery/equipment failure

We work hard to pinpoint the exact cause so that we can hold all responsible parties accountable in your boating or jet ski accident.

Negligence is a legal theory used to hold people financially liable for their carelessness.

Negligence has four main elements:

1. Duty: the defendant owed you a duty of care
2. Breach: the defendant breached that duty
3. Causation: the breach caused your injuries
4. Damages: you suffered damages as a result

To win your case, you must prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence. That means you have to show that it’s more likely than not that the defendant’s actions caused your injuries.

From your perspective, it might seem obvious. But when insurance companies get involved and try to place the blame on you, you need experienced legal counsel.

Any of the following evidence might be used to prove your case:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Testimony of medical, financial, and accident reconstruction experts
• Accident reports
• Maintenance records
• Evidence of alcohol or drug use

Our premier Fort Walton Beach boating accident attorneys know the complexities of these types of accidents. We’ve spent the last 30+ years helping injured victims fight for fair compensation.

Taking the right steps after your accident on the water can help your case.

Here are some key things to remember:

• Report the accident. Of course, call 911 if the situation is an emergency. If it’s not life-threatening, you should still call the police and report the accident.
• Be careful with your statements. Don’t say anything that suggests you were at fault for the accident. Be truthful to the police, but take a breath and remember that you were just in an accident and might not even know what really happened. We all want to make sense of tragedy, but don’t get caught up in trying to explain something without all the facts. The wrong statement could severely damage your case.
• Collect any evidence you can. If you’re able, take pictures of the watercraft involved and anything else of the scene. Try to get contact and insurance information from other parties involved. If you can, get contact information for witnesses.
• Seek medical attention. No matter how minor your injuries might seem, go get checked out within 24 hours. Many injuries are invisible. You may be in shock and not realize the extent of your injuries. Minor injuries could lead to complications later. A medical report right after your accident will be important for your lawyer to use in your case.
• Finally, contact a reputable Fort Walton Beach personal injury law firm to discuss your legal options. A good lawyer will explain all of your options and advise you on the best course of action.

If you’re filing a lawsuit to recover for injuries, then you typically have two years. A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within two years.

You could have insurance claim deadlines as well, depending on your accident. Don’t mess around with these deadlines. Missing them could prevent you from recovering anything.

A reputable Fort Walton beach personal injury attorney can make sure your case is handled properly.