There are conditions in which you must file a report after a boating accident, including if someone dies, suffers injuries that require medical treatment, disappears, or the boat sustains property damage worth more than $2,000. You should file a report within 48 hours after the accident.
A Florida boating accident lawyer can help you file a report and claim damages to recover compensation. You don’t have to handle this stressful situation alone.
When Is It Necessary to File a Boating Accident Report?
You must file a boating accident report per Florida Statutes § 327.30 if one of the following conditions occurs:
- Injury: You must report the incident if someone on the boat suffers injuries that require medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Disappearance: If someone falls overboard or disappears because of the accident, you must report it so that law enforcement can begin a search.
- Death: If someone onboard dies because of the accident, you must report it.
- Property damage: Even if none of the above apply, you must report a boating accident if the property damage exceeds $2,000.
How Soon Should You File a Boating Accident Report?
You must file a boating accident report within 48 hours. However, the sooner law enforcement and medical professionals can act, the better. You could face legal penalties, such as a fine, if you do not report a boating accident within 48 hours.
Delaying a report can also negatively affect insurance claims and your ability to recover compensation for damages.
Where Do You File a Boating Accident Report?
You can file a boating accident report with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWC), the local police department, or the county sheriff. For example, if you were in a boating accident in or near Boca Raton, you could file the report with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities will investigate the boating accident and collect evidence to determine the cause and assess liability.
What if You Are Partially At Fault For a Boating Accident?
If you are partially at fault for a boating accident, you can still recover compensation as long as you are not 51 percent or more at fault. For example, if a jury finds you were 30 percent at fault for the boating accident, you will recover 70 percent of the amount you otherwise would have received.
You may be unable to recover compensation if you are 51 percent or more at fault.
Can a Lawyer Help You File a Boating Accident Report?
Yes, an attorney can help you file a boating accident report. A boating accident is stressful, and having 48 hours to file a report adds additional pressure. A boating accident lawyer can walk you through the process and review the report to ensure it includes all relevant information.
An attorney can also investigate the accident, collect evidence to support your claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and represent you in court if taking your case to trial is necessary.
Your lawyer could also help you reduce your percentage of fault to maximize the amount of compensation you can get.
What Should You Expect When Considering Hiring an Attorney?
An attorney from our firm offers the following benefits:
- Assistance in multiple languages, including Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, Creole, Greek, Turkish, and Arabic.
- Working on a contingency fee basis — you only pay attorney fees if we win your case.
- Regular case updates and availability for evening and weekend appointments.
- Mock trials to prepare you and your case for court.
We are always there when you need us because everyone deserves access to legal representation. We strongly recommend consulting an attorney after a boating accident. A lawyer can protect your rights and provide you with legal options.
What Types of Damages Can You Claim After a Boating Accident?
Filing a boating accident report establishes a record of the accident that can help you recover compensation for damages. For instance, you could have physical injuries requiring medical attention or emotional and mental pain and suffering that affects your daily life.
A boating accident attorney can help you claim the following damages:
- Economic damages: Financial damages include medical bills, lost income, household services, transportation, child care, property damage, and home modifications.
- Noneconomic damages: This category includes emotional distress, lost companionship, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and disabilities.
- Wrongful death damages: Wrongful death damages include funeral expenses, mental pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost income. A Boca Raton wrongful death lawyer can help you fight for the compensation your family deserves.
What Is the Deadline To File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident?
Just as you only have a short time to file a boating accident report, you also have a short time to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation. The deadline to file a lawsuit after a boating accident is two years, per Florida Statutes § 95.11.
You could lose the right to file a lawsuit if you miss the deadline. A boating accident lawyer will work to meet the statute of limitations and file a lawsuit on your behalf so you can present your case in court.
Learn More About When to File a Boating Accident Report Today
You have rights and legal options after a boating accident. Filing a boating accident report within 48 hours is a crucial step in the process. A Boca Raton boating accident attorney from GED Lawyers can help you file a report and fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
We have a history of winning for clients, recovering over $26 million in compensation since 1995. Our firm can handle your legal case so you can devote your time and focus on other matters. To learn more about when you need to file a boating accident report, please contact us for a free consultation today.
