Have you recently been injured in a boating accident in Tampa, Florida? Don’t let well-deserved compensation slip away. Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers and discover how our Tampa boating accident lawyers can help you get every cent you deserve.
Since 2001, we’ve been dedicated advocates to boat accident victims and grieving families across the greater Tampa Bay area and throughout the state of Florida.
Collectively, our top-rated trial attorneys have over 119 years of experience. Through hard work and dedication, we’ve won millions on behalf of injured victims of Tampa car accident injuries, Tampa motorcycle accident injuries, slip and fall cases, Tampa wrongful death claims, and more.
Now is the time for you to fight to get the money you deserve. We can help you maximize your financial recovery. Contact our law office in Tampa, FL to learn more with a free consultation today at at (813) 223-6200.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Boating Accident in Tampa
Boating accident cases can be complicated for a host of different reasons. It can be tough to pinpoint why a boat accident happened. Many parties can share liability. In some cases, state or federal law might apply.
When you’re struggling to recover from catastrophic boat injuries, the last thing you need to do is stress about these (and other) issues as you pursue compensation.
Make Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers your first call for help, and let our Tampa personal injury lawyers fight for you.
We have decades of experience handling complex boat and maritime injury cases. Our top-rated litigators have gone up against powerful insurance companies and corporations and achieved favorable results for our clients in the process.
We know that this is your one opportunity to recover compensation that you’ll need on your road to recovery, and we’ll be your fiercest advocate throughout the process.
While you concentrate on your recovery, our team will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your boat accident in Tampa
- Consult boat accident and injury specialists
- Gather evidence that can be used to establish causation, fault, and liability
- Carefully evaluate the current and future consequences of your boat injuries as we assess the value of your claim
- Defend against allegations that you share responsibility for your boat accident
- Handle negotiations with the insurance company, government agency, and/or other parties on your behalf
- Represent you at trial if you aren’t offered a fair settlement
Our Tampa boat accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You only pay if we win your boat injury claim. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to you – our fee comes directly out of your financial award.
We offer a free case evaluation, so do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team in Tampa to set up a time to speak about your boat accident case today.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Tampa, FL?
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 1 million vessels were registered with the state in 2021. That makes for some crowded waterways on the coast and state’s waterways.
It’s no surprise that Florida ranks first in the nation for boat accidents. In 2020, 836 boat accidents were reported in the Sunshine State. This was about 63 percent higher than California, which recorded 493 boat accidents that year.
In 2021, boat accidents in Florida dropped slightly, for a total of 751.
Tampa and surrounding towns in Hillsborough County see their fair share of boat accidents each year. About 62 percent of the state’s boat accidents happen in just 10 counties – including Hillsborough County.
In total, 20 boat accidents were reported in Hillsborough County that year – including 6 that caused an injury and 3 that were fatal.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents in Tampa?
The vast majority of boat accidents in Tampa are a result of negligence. Negligence refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances which, in turn, causes property damage, injury, or death.
Boat accident statistics for Hillsborough County reveal that the leading causes include:
- Operator inexperience
- Operator distraction and improper lookout
- Drug and alcohol use
- Machinery failure
- Improper loading
- Speeding
- Overloading
- Inclement weather
- Failure to vent fumes
Most frequently, this causes vessels to collide with fixed objects, other vessels, or floating objects. In some cases, it can cause a boat to sink, ground, or overturn.
We Handle All Types of Boat Accident Cases in Tampa
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our top-rated Florida litigators are ready to help you if you’ve been injured in a Tampa:
- Speedboat accident
- Jet ski accident
- Canoe accident
- Kayak accident
- Water skiing accident
- Yacht accident
- Cruise ship accident
- Fishing boat accident
- Commercial boat accident
- Tour boat accident
- Sailboat accident
Whether you own your boat, rented the vessel, or were a passenger on board a ship owned and operated by someone else, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options. Call our law office in Tampa to discuss the specific details of your boat accident and learn more today.
Who’s Liable for a Boat Accident in Tampa?
Liability – or financial responsibility – is shared by anyone who contributes to a boat accident.
Depending on the specific circumstances of your boat accident, potentially liable parties might include:
- Negligent boat operator
- Boat passenger
- The vessel’s owner
- Boat rental company
- Boat manufacturer
- Boat maintenance company
- Employer of a negligent party
Our personal injury attorneys in Tampa will carefully examine the details of your maritime accident to determine why it happened and, by extension, who’s at fault.
What Damages Can I Get If I’ve Been Hurt in a Tampa Boat Accident?
The financial, physical, and emotional consequences of a boat accident can be devastating. Fortunately, boat accident victims in Florida can pursue insurance benefits and/or damages in a lawsuit. Under state law, both economic and non-economic damages can be awarded.
Economic damages include money for financial costs and losses associated with a boat accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Nursing assistance
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are awarded to offset the trauma and life changes that a boat accident can cause, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Embarrassment
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our boat accident lawyers in Tampa will work closely with reputable boat accident experts, medical professionals, and specialists as we build your claim. We’ll lean on their insight and expertise and work to really understand how your accident has affected you and changed your life.
The more we know about the specifics of your situation, the more likely it is that we can secure an award that accurately represents what your boat accident case is worth.
Common Boat Accident Injuries in Tampa
Since boat accidents involve water, the stakes are even higher for operators, passengers, and bystanders.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help if you’ve suffered:
- Drowning injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Joint injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Hypothermia
- Oxygen deprivation
- Crushing injury
- Amputation
- Wrongful death of a family member after a fatal Tampa boat accident
Always seek medical attention as soon as you can after a boat accident in Tampa. Seek treatment at the nearest emergency room to ensure that all of your injuries are diagnosed and treated promptly.
Can I Recover Damages in a Florida Boat Accident Lawsuit If I’m Getting Blamed?
Yes, but your financial award will be limited. Under the state’s modified comparative fault system, damages are adjusted based on your contribution to the boat accident. So if you’re 15 percent at fault for a boat accident, your financial recovery will be reduced by 15 percent. You cannot recover any compensation if you are mostly at fault for an accident (i.e., 51% or more).
Insurers and at-fault parties won’t hesitate to point fingers and say that you’re at least partly responsible for the boat accident. If you do nothing, you could watch valuable compensation slip away.
When you choose Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our top-rated Tampa boat accident attorneys will be ready to defend you against these tactics. We’ll demand proof to back up these allegations and work to uncover evidence of our own to dispute claims of shared fault. After all, the less liability you share, the more money you can potentially recover when your boat accident case is resolved.
What’s the Time Limit for Filing a Boat Accident Claim in Tampa, Florida?
Under Florida state law, you’ll typically have two years to bring a personal injury claim for damages.
If a family member is killed in a fatal boat accident in Tampa, you’ll also have two years to file a wrongful death action.
There may be exceptions, particularly in cases involving children or where federal law applies.
However, once the statute of limitations expires, you’ll give up the right to file a claim and secure damages from those responsible for your boat accident injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Trusted Tampa Boat Accident Lawyers
Are you struggling with severe injuries because you were recently involved in a boat accident in Tampa Bay or off the Gulf Coast of Florida? Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Our Tampa boat accident attorneys can help you work toward a meaningful financial recovery.
We offer a free consultation, which gives you the opportunity to learn about your rights and options as well as the legal representation we can offer.
Contact our law firm in Tampa to arrange a time to speak with a member of our legal team today.
Visit Our Law Office in Tampa, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Tampa
601 W Swann Ave
Tampa, FL 33606, USA
Phone: (813) 223-6200
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
