Miramar Boat Accident Lawyer
According to the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, Florida had 684 boating accidents in 2016, topping states like New York and California for the most in the country. With over 900,000 registered water vessels in the state, it is somewhat unsurprising that Florida is a particularly risky area for boat operators. If you were involved in a boat crash recently, hiring a Miramar boat accident lawyer as soon as possible should be your top priority. When seeking compensation for injuries someone else caused, you deserve legal counsel from a dedicated personal injury attorney to present your case in the most accurate way possible.
Florida Boating Registration
Residents of Miramar must hold title certificates and vessel registration with the county tax collector's office in the region in which their vessel is located. Registration numbers must also be clearly displayed on the front half of the vessel on both regions above the waterline. In many cases, failing to provide these registrations and presenting them properly can cause a great deal of trouble in the event of an accident.
For example, if someone who does not have valid vessel registration gets injured in a boating accident, they would have trouble receiving any sort of compensation, even if the operator of the other vessel was the one who caused the accident. In these situations, a Miramar boat accident attorney who understands the facets and intricacies of Florida boating laws could help ensure that minor slip-ups do not hinder a plaintiff's chances of receiving compensation for their injuries.
What Causes Miramar Boat Accidents?
The most common cause of boat accidents that lead to death is capsizing, followed by vessel collisions and people falling overboard. Many times, these accidents can stem from boats exceeding the speed limit.
Among other requirements, Florida Statutes Chapter 327 mandates that vessels operating in "Idle-Speed - No Wake" zones at the minimum speed that operators can maintain steerageway and headway. In "Slow Down - Minimum Wake" zones, vessels must be settled in the water and off the plane. In either of these situations, a boat's wake must not create a hazard to other vessels or be excessive.
Those injured by a speeding boat commonly do not have clear recollections of the accident, especially during hazardous weather conditions. In fact, potential plaintiffs might not even know if they are responsible or not.
During the stressful aftermath of an accident, it is in an injured victim's best interests to have a legal professional help piece together the available evidence of your accident and present it to the courts. With a boat accident lawyer in Miramar by their side, any crash victim could be sure their case would be presented to the courts using all available facts, including weather information, witnesses, and camera records.
Alcohol and Boat Collisions
A common factor in many boat collisions is alcohol. As such, most judges look closely into any role alcohol consumption might have played in an accident for which one party is seeking damages.
Florida Statutes Title XXIV. Vessels Section 327.35 prohibits vessel operators from possessing "a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood" or "a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath." Anyone found under the influence of alcohol during a boating accident could have a tough road ahead, since it is such a common factor in accidents about which judges are often very unforgiving. Speak with an experienced lawyer for more information about boat accidents and recovering damages.
Contact a Miramar Boat Accident Attorney
After a boat crash that results in serious injuries, comprehensive legal representation could be crucial to a fair civil outcome. No matter what the specific details of your case are, a Miramar boat accident lawyer could help you through from start to finish. Call today for more information on what a skilled attorney could do for you.