Florida boat and personal-watercraft accident attorney
A boating accident can leave victims with serious injuries, medical bills, lost income, damaged property, and difficult questions about who was operating the vessel, what safety rules applied, and what insurance is available. Jeremiah Jaspon represents people injured in Florida boat, Jet Ski, and other watercraft accidents.
- Get medical care and report a qualifying boating accident to the proper authorities.
- Preserve photographs, vessel information, witness contacts, videos, and any rental or charter paperwork.
- Do not assume the vessel operator, owner, rental company, or insurer has given you the complete answer about responsibility.
Have you been injured in a Florida boating accident?
Florida’s waterways are used year-round by local residents and visitors. A day on a lake, river, inlet, or the ocean can become dangerous when a vessel operator is impaired, distracted, inexperienced, speeding, operating carelessly, or using poorly maintained equipment.
Boating injury claims can be more complex than a typical motor-vehicle claim. They may involve a boat operator, vessel owner, rental company, tour or charter business, marina, manufacturer, employer, another boater, or a government entity. The location of the crash and the type of vessel can also affect the legal analysis.
At The Jaspon Firm, you work directly with attorney Jeremiah Jaspon. We investigate the accident, identify potentially responsible parties and available coverage, preserve evidence, and handle the insurance company while you focus on your recovery.
Types of Florida boating accidents we evaluate
- Powerboat, center-console, cabin-cruiser, and yacht accidents
- Personal watercraft accidents involving Jet Skis, WaveRunners, and similar vessels
- Airboat, pontoon boat, sailboat, canoe, kayak, and paddleboard accidents
- Charter, fishing, sightseeing, tour, shuttle, and rental-boat accidents
- Collisions with another boat, dock, bridge, fixed object, swimmer, or personal watercraft
- Falls overboard, propeller injuries, wake-related injuries, and collisions caused by unsafe operation
- Commercial-vessel and work-related boating injuries
Common causes of boat and Jet Ski accidents
Many boating accidents are preventable. An operator has a responsibility to navigate safely, pay attention to conditions, follow applicable rules, and avoid putting passengers and other people on the water at unnecessary risk.
- Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding, reckless operation, or creating a hazardous wake
- Inattention, distraction, inexperience, or failure to keep a proper lookout
- Unsafe turns, crossing another vessel’s path, or failure to follow navigation rules
- Operating at night or in poor weather without appropriate care
- Improper use of personal watercraft or failure to use required safety equipment
- Mechanical defects, inadequate maintenance, steering failure, engine failure, or equipment problems
- Unsafe rental, charter, tour, or commercial-vessel practices
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidance states that operating a vessel while impaired is illegal and dangerous. The FWC also emphasizes sober operation, life jackets, and boating-safety education. Read the FWC boating-safety guidance.
Who may be responsible for a boating injury?
The right claim depends on the facts. A full investigation may identify more than one responsible party, especially when a vessel was rented, chartered, used for business, or operated by someone other than its owner.
The vessel operator
An operator may be responsible for impairment, unsafe speed, distraction, inexperience, violating navigation rules, or another careless act.
The owner, company, or rental provider
An owner or business may have responsibility for unsafe entrustment, poor maintenance, inadequate training, equipment issues, or negligent operating practices.
Another responsible party
Another boater, manufacturer, repair provider, employer, property owner, or government entity may be relevant depending on the accident and location.
What to do after a boat accident in Florida
- Put safety first and get medical help.
Call 911 or seek emergency assistance when needed. Get a prompt medical evaluation even if injuries are not immediately obvious. - Report the accident when required.
Florida requires prompt notice to the appropriate authority when a boating accident involves injury beyond immediate first aid, death or disappearance, or at least $2,000 in vessel or property damage. - Identify the vessels and people involved.
Record vessel registration numbers, operator and owner information, rental or charter-company details, insurance information, and the location of the crash. - Document the scene.
Take photographs or video of vessel damage, injuries, weather, water conditions, equipment, safety gear, wakes, landmarks, and the surrounding area if it is safe to do so. - Get witness information.
Passengers, nearby boaters, dock staff, marina personnel, and first responders may have important information about what occurred. - Preserve records and be cautious with insurers.
Keep medical records, receipts, rental documents, communications, and repair estimates. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement before you understand your options.
The FWC explains Florida’s boating-accident reporting requirements and the obligation to render aid at Florida boating regulations.
Evidence in a boating accident case
Evidence on the water can disappear quickly. Vessels are repaired, weather and water conditions change, electronic data may be overwritten, and witnesses can become difficult to locate. Prompt investigation can make a meaningful difference.
- FWC, Coast Guard, sheriff, or police incident reports
- Photographs and video of the vessel, injuries, equipment, water conditions, and damage
- Witness statements and contact information
- GPS, navigation, electronic-chart, cell-phone, camera, and onboard data when available
- Rental agreements, charter records, passenger lists, training information, and operating instructions
- Maintenance, inspection, repair, ownership, and registration records
- Medical records, work-loss records, receipts, and documentation of damaged property
Common injuries after a boat or personal-watercraft accident
Boating injuries can be severe. A collision, fall overboard, propeller strike, sudden impact, or personal-watercraft crash can cause long-term physical and emotional consequences.
- Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and facial injuries
- Neck, back, spinal-cord, and orthopedic injuries
- Broken bones, crush injuries, lacerations, and burns
- Propeller injuries, amputation, or serious disfigurement
- Internal injuries, near-drowning injuries, and hypothermia-related complications
- PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other emotional trauma
- Wrongful death
Compensation after a boating accident
When another person or entity is legally responsible, a claim may seek compensation for the financial losses caused by the accident and the broader impact the injury has had on your life. Every case is different, and the available recovery depends on liability, insurance, injuries, evidence, and other facts.
- Emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and future treatment
- Lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and documented business losses
- Pain, suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of normal activities when supported by the evidence
- Repair or replacement of vessels, equipment, personal items, and other damaged property
- Wrongful-death damages when an accident results in the loss of a loved one
Boat rentals, charters, and commercial vessels
A rental or charter accident may raise additional questions. Did the business provide appropriate safety instructions? Was the vessel properly maintained? Was the operator qualified? Were weather conditions, passenger capacity, safety equipment, or known mechanical problems handled appropriately?
Commercial and offshore accidents may also involve additional federal or maritime issues. The correct legal analysis depends on the vessel, the location, the work being performed, and the people or companies involved. These cases should be evaluated promptly and individually.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
Deadlines can be short and may differ based on the type of claim, the location of the accident, the vessel involved, the responsible parties, and possible federal or maritime issues. Many Florida negligence claims are subject to a two-year filing deadline, but you should not rely on a general rule without having the specific facts reviewed. Prompt action also helps preserve evidence.
Talk directly with a Florida boat accident lawyer
You do not have to sort through insurance, vessel ownership, rental documents, and evidence questions alone. Jeremiah Jaspon personally reviews new injury cases and can explain the next steps. There are no fees or expenses unless we recover money for you.
Florida boating accident questions
Who is responsible for a boat accident?
Responsibility depends on the facts. The operator, vessel owner, rental or charter company, another boater, manufacturer, repair provider, or another party may be responsible.
Do I have to report a boating accident in Florida?
Florida requires notice to the proper authority when an accident involves injury beyond immediate first aid, death or disappearance, or at least $2,000 in vessel or property damage. Reporting requirements can be fact-specific, so seek help promptly.
Can I bring a claim if I was a passenger on the boat?
Possibly. A passenger may have a claim against the operator, owner, rental company, another boater, or another responsible party, depending on how the accident happened.
What if the boat operator had been drinking?
Boating under the influence is illegal and may be important evidence in a civil injury claim. Preserve available evidence and report the accident to the proper authorities.
What if I was injured on a rented boat or Jet Ski?
A rental provider’s training, maintenance, equipment, instructions, and safety practices may need to be reviewed, along with the actions of the operator and other people involved.
Do I need a lawyer after a Florida boat accident?
Boating cases can involve time-sensitive evidence, several insurance policies, and different state or federal issues. An attorney can investigate the accident, identify potentially responsible parties, and explain your options.