Articles Posted in Boating Injury

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Florida is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and warm ocean waters. With so many opportunities for outdoor recreation, it is no wonder that Florida is home to many boating enthusiasts.

Boating can be an excellent way to spend time with friends and family, soak up the sun, and explore the open water. However, due to the inherent risks involved in operating a boat, one must always be alert and mindful of safety precautions. 

According to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in 2020, there were 836 boating accidents in the state of Florida. This is a 16% increase from 2019 when 721 accidents occurred. 

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One of the most appealing attractions in Florida are its beautiful waterways, which continue to be a mainstay for both visitors and locals alike. The nearly year-round warm weather makes it a popular destination for boat rentals at the many beaches, lakes, rivers, inlets, and canals. However, increased activity on the waterways means boating accidents are more likely to occur. 

Injuries sustained in a Florida boating accident are usually the result of a collision with another vessel of some kind. Depending on the impact of the crash, accident victims can suffer from a myriad of injuries ranging from minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises — to more serious damages, such as severe lacerations, broken bones, spinal cord damage, soft tissue damage, long-term disability, traumatic brain injuries, and even death. 

If you or a loved one suffered a maritime injury on a rental boat, you may be wondering who may be liable for your damages. Inquiring with a licensed attorney may be crucial to help you hold the at-fault party liable and pursue the full amount of financial compensation you may be legally eligible for. This is important because you could recover costs for medical care, lost wages if you missed work while recovering, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the collision.

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Although Florida is famous for being the perfect place to go on a cruise, many passengers suffer serious injuries every year due to cruise ship accidents. Cruise lines are in constant competition with each other, as they continue to build elaborate swimming pools, water slides, wave pools, and other aquatic activities which can lead to various types of injuries.

If you or a loved one was injured at a cruise ship’s pool, it is important that you understand your legal rights to seek compensation to pay for your medical expenses and other damages. Discussing your situation with an experienced lawyer may be critical to pursue the fair amount of compensation you may deserve. 

At the law office of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our licensed lawyers have a wealth of legal experience, which includes in-depth knowledge of local and state maritime laws. We know what it takes to hold cruise lines liable for any damages you may have sustained such as medical bills, lost wages from missing work, pain and suffering, and other damages. Call our firm today to schedule a no-cost evaluation of your injury claim.

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The most common type of boating accident in Florida usually involves a collision with another vessel. Whether you are planning on going for a boat ride or thinking about loaning your vessel to someone outside of your household, it is crucial to understand the maritime laws in Florida. The repercussions from a serious boating crash could put you in a difficult financial situation. Speaking with a knowledgeable boat accident attorney may be essential to pursue compensation for damages and protect you from being sued in a personal injury lawsuit.

At the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our attorneys take boating accident cases seriously. If you have any questions regarding a maritime injury, call our firm today to schedule a complimentary initial evaluation. Our licensed lawyers have in-depth knowledge and experience working with the boating laws in the state of Florida.    

Read on to learn some of the laws and requirements boat owners must abide by in the Sunshine State, including whether you are legally allowed to loan your boat out to another individual. 

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It’s a subject we have mentioned on several occasions, but it’s one that bears repeating. Even a single error can be damaging to a case, or lead to wasteful and duplicative effort for all involved. Indeed, as the defendants in a recent case before Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, Soto v. McCulley Marine Servs., Inc., now know, litigants should endeavor to get things right the first time because even if an error works in your favor, it may ultimately just lead to wasted effort.

McCulley began with a drowning that occurred on Independence Day 2009. In 2009, Manatee County had a program to create artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. The program involved considerable amounts of concrete debris on other materials. Accordingly, the county set up a staging area at the southeastern end of Anna Maria Island, adjacent to Coquina Beach and Bayside Park. The area is popular for visitors, especially those who enjoy water sports. The defendants in this case were enlisted by the county to help build the reef.  In 2009, Independence Day fell on a Saturday, and the defendants did not wish to work over the holiday weekend. Accordingly, the captain of a tugboat involved in the project moored the tugboat and its barge adjacent to a dock in the staging area. On Independence Day, the decedent was operating a jet ski near the tugboat and barge. During his journey, the jet ski stalled.  The tidal currents were particularly strong, and the decedent became separated from the jet ski. His friends came to assist him, but the decedent drowned. His body was found under the tugboat.

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Under Florida law, a plaintiff has four years to bring a suit for negligence. See Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Although the waters surrounding our state play host to a number of accidents, many potential litigants are surprised to learn that the Florida legal rules, including the aforementioned statute of limitations, are often not those that govern disputes that arise on the seas. Instead, maritime law controls many of these cases, and potential litigants should be aware of the implications that these differing legal rules may have for their lawsuits. For instance, these differences were at the heart of a recent decision from Florida’s First District Court of Appeal, Lupola v. Lupola, which concerned the differing statutes of limitations for negligence under maritime and Florida law.

The incident at issue in this case occurred in July 2010. The plaintiff and her husband were on a raft that was being pulled by a boat operated by her father-in -law. At one point during the trip, the raft went airborne and then hit the water with enough force to eject the plaintiff and her husband from the raft. Both the plaintiff and her husband were injured and received medical treatment the same day. A little less than four years later, the plaintiff filed suit against her father-in-law and the manufacturer of the raft, BRP US, Inc., alleging negligence against the former and products liability against the latter. Following discovery, the defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that since the incident occurred on a waterway, it was subject to the statute of limitations for negligence under maritime law, which is set at three years rather than four years, as under Florida law. See 46 U.S.C. § 30106 (“Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action for damages for personal injury or death arising out of a maritime tort must be brought within [three] years after the cause of action arose.”) The plaintiff conceded that maritime law applied but argued that her claim was subject to equitable tolling because her husband’s domineering attitude prevented her from seeking legal advice for some time after the accident. The trial court granted the defendants’ motion, finding that the plaintiff had not shown the grounds for equitable tolling, and therefore the action was time-barred. The plaintiff then appealed to the First District.

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