Practice Areas
Boating Accidents
Boaters in Florida face serious risks when others act carelessly on waterways.
Fort Lauderdale’s canals, Intracoastal, and coastline make it a world-class boating destination, but heavy traffic and careless operators cause hundreds of crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities every year across Broward County and the rest of Florida.
Do you need legal help after serious Florida boating accidents?
Boating Risks In Florida Waterways
Broward County has hundreds of miles of navigable waterways, bringing constant recreational and commercial vessel traffic to the Fort Lauderdale area.
FWC data show roughly seven hundred reported boating accidents across Florida each year, with close to one hundred fatalities and hundreds more injuries. Florida leads the nation in boating deaths, and Broward County consistently ranks among the most dangerous counties. Operator inattention, inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use remain the leading causes of preventable waterway crashes.
Boating Accident Causes
- Operator inattention or failure to maintain a proper lookout in busy channels, marinas, and coastal waterways.
- Inexperienced captains without formal boating education operating powerful vessels in crowded intracoastal or offshore conditions.
- Excessive speed or reckless maneuvers, especially near other vessels, swimmers, docks, bridges, or channel markers.
- Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, leading to delayed reactions and impaired judgment.
- Mechanical failures, poor maintenance, or defective equipment causing steering, engine, or control problems on vessels.
- Hazardous weather, poor visibility, or rough seas combined with distracted operation, phones, maps, radios, or tablets.
- Aggressive “road rage” on the water and other negligent conduct that causes preventable Florida boating injuries.
Common Injuries From Boating Accidents In Florida
Serious water-related injuries seen after boat collisions
- Brain and spinal cord trauma
- Drowning and near-drowning complications
Other boating-related injuries
- Broken bones, compression fractures, and compound limb fractures.
- Deep lacerations, propeller wounds, and severe disfigurement.
- Soft tissue tears, whiplash, and painful joint injuries.
- Burns from fires, explosions, or chemical exposures onboard.
- Organ injuries such as lung contusions or ruptured spleens.
- Wrongful death and other catastrophic waterway injury outcomes.
What To Do After A Boating Accident
Swift action helps protect your health and legal rights.
- Get to safety
- Call emergency services
- Seek medical evaluation
- Report to FWC
- Document vessels and scene
- Gather witness information
- Avoid recorded statements
- Contact lawyer
Who May Be Liable For Boating
Multiple parties can share responsibility for boating crashes, especially when vessels are rented, chartered, or commercially operated around Fort Lauderdale.
Negligent boat operators
Captains speeding, distracted, impaired, or inexperienced.
Vessel owners
Owners allowing unqualified, intoxicated, or unsafe operators.
Rental companies
Companies renting unsafe boats without safety gear.
Charter and tour businesses
Businesses negligently running boating tours and trips.
Manufacturers and equipment
Defective hulls, engines, or components causing control loss.
Commercial vessel operators
Businesses with heightened duties to protect passengers.
Contact Your Lawyer Now
We’ll handle insurers and protect your compensation through every stage of the process.
Key Florida Boating Laws To Understand
Comparative fault and alcohol rules
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence standard. Injured victims may still recover damages even if partially at fault, so long as they are not found more than fifty percent responsible for the boating accident.
Boating under the influence is illegal. Operators with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher can face criminal charges and civil liability, and alcohol use remains one of the leading causes of fatal boating crashes statewide.
After a crash, seeking medical care, reporting the accident to FWC or law enforcement, documenting the scene, and contacting a boating accident lawyer quickly can greatly strengthen your future claim.
Compensation After A Florida Boating Accident Injury Claim
Economic Damages
Economic damages reimburse financial losses from boating accidents, including medical treatment, lost income, and other expenses linked to your injuries.
- Medical Expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, and future medical treatment reasonably related to your boating accident injuries. - Lost income
Past and future wages you cannot earn, diminished earning capacity, and lost benefits due to crash-related limitations or disabilities. - Other financial losses
Property damage, transportation to medical appointments, replacement equipment, and other necessary costs tied directly to the incident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life after serious injuries on Florida waterways.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of companionship
Speak With A Fort Lauderdale Boating Accident Lawyer Today
A boating accident on the waters near Fort Lauderdale can change your life in an instant. Whether you were hurt on a river, canal, lake, or offshore, you deserve a legal team that understands Florida boating law and takes your injuries seriously. Attorney Josiah Graham and the Graham Injury Firm have recovered over fifty million dollars for injured clients statewide, including boating accident victims. They investigate what happened, identify responsible parties, and pursue compensation while you focus on healing and rebuilding.
Don’t wait, your time to act is limited. Contact Graham Injury Law Firm before time’s up
Don’t Wait to Get the Justice You Deserve
Time matters after an injury. Evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies move fast to protect their own interests. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and protecting your rights.
Graham Injury Firm is ready to fight for you, today.
Over $50M+ recovered.
Recognized Leadership.
Community-Driven Advocacy.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Graham Injury Firm?
No Fee Unless We Win.
No Upfront Cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers You Can Trust
How long will my case take?
Time matters after an injury. Evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies move fast to protect their own interests. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and protecting your rights.
Will I speak directly with an attorney?
Time matters after an injury. Evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies move fast to protect their own interests. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and protecting your rights.
What should I do right after an accident?
Time matters after an injury. Evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies move fast to protect their own interests. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and protecting your rights.
How much is my case worth?
Time matters after an injury. Evidence fades, witnesses forget, and insurance companies move fast to protect their own interests. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and protecting your rights.
Don’t Wait to Get the Help You Deserve
We know how overwhelming this moment feels, but acting quickly can make all the difference. Our team is ready to step in today, handle the pressure, and fight for the results you deserve.