WHAT TO DO WHEN INVOLVED IN A BOATING ACCIDENT IN TAMPA

What to do in a boating accident

Commuting using boats can be a thrilling and exciting experience especially when with friends and family. However, just like any other mode of transportation, it has its risks and is prone to accidents. A boating accident is usually a terrifying situation, and knowing what to do or how to respond can be tough. This knowledge can save someone’s life while also ensuring that your legal rights are protected. Boaters who are reasonable for a boating accident in Tampa are required to file a claim with their insurance company, but it is up to the victim to seek compensation for the boating accident injuries sustained.  This article will disclose the immediate action steps necessary, but first, let us look at ways these accidents can be avoided.

How To Avoid Boating Accidents.

Boating accidents in Tampa are far too common. Many accidents that result in significant injury or death may have been averted if simple safety procedures had been taken. Before operating a boating or watercraft, or permitting someone else to operate your boating or watercraft, ensure the operator has appropriate knowledge of the watercraft’s safe operation, is sober, and has the necessary safety equipment on board in case of an emergency.

While Florida law only requires anyone under the age of 21 who drives a boating on their own to complete a boating safety course, it is always a good idea to verify that anyone who plans to operate a watercraft does so.

Before leaving the pier, a boater should take the following procedures to increase their safety:

– First and foremost, check the weather forecast. Avoid harsh weather that is predictable, but be aware of all possible weather changes during the period you intend to travel.

– Because Tampa weather changes rapidly, you should be prepared for any weather changes and have a working two-way radio onboard to ensure that you can contact for assistance in the event of an emergency. Simple communication can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

What To Do If You’ve Been In a Boating Accident

Step 1: First Aid.

The physical safety of everyone on board takes precedence in the seconds and minutes following a watercraft catastrophe. If you are aboard a boat that has been involved in a boating accident and the boat is still afloat, the first thing you should do is establish whether you or anybody else requires medical assistance.

A life jacket should be worn or readily available at all times to assist you in staying afloat in the case of a boating mishap. Drowning is responsible for 70% of boating accident deaths, according to the US Coast Guard.

If someone has fallen overboard, you should help them back onto the boating as soon as possible. Climbing on floating wreckage and signaling for aid are recommended if the vessel has split apart or is sinking. 

Identify anyone who needs medical attention and decide what to do. Take out your first-aid kit and make do with what you have. To avoid further major injuries, move people who are in danger. If you suspect the injured person has suffered a head or neck injury, this is an exemption. If you must move them, do so with care and as gently as possible.

If everyone is still on board, the priority should be to keep the boating out of harm’s way while also providing medical assistance to those on board. The boating should be moved out of the way of oncoming vessels. Provide first aid to anyone who needs it and seek medical assistance as quickly as feasible. Check to see if anyone else was injured in the boating crash, such as another boating or other watercraft.

Please note that it is still important to visit a doctor. Even if you do not believe you were hurt in the boating accident, it is always a good idea to see your doctor. The shock of being in a boating disaster can sometimes disguise symptoms of a major injury. As a result, you and your loved ones should take precautions and seek medical advice as soon as possible. Make sure to tell your doctor that you were in a boating accident since they may want to run additional tests or perform procedures.

Step 2: Notify The Authorities.

Report the boating accident to the US Coast Guard as soon as possible. Inform them of your location and whether or not medical aid is required. Even if your boat is still operational, do not leave the accident area, especially if someone needs medical assistance.

While you wait for the police to come, check to see whether any of the boats involved in the accident are in the way of other boats. If this is the case, relocate them to the side if at all possible.

Following a boating accident, it’s critical to notify law enforcement officials, and it’s better to report the event as soon as possible.

Step 3: Fill Out An Accident Report And Collect Data

Gather contact information from the other boaters involved while you’re still at the accident scene. Compile names, addresses, and phone numbers for both operators and passengers. 

After ensuring that everyone is safe and out of immediate danger following the boating mishap, you’ll need to gather vital information from individuals aboard the other vessel as well as any witnesses. You should collect the following information at the accident scene:

– The boating operators’ names, residences, and phone numbers that were involved in the accident.

– Names, residences, and phone numbers of passengers on board any of the vessels involved in the accident.

– Any eyewitnesses who may have witnessed the disaster from the shore or other vessels should provide their names and contact information.

– The number of the other vessels involved in the accident’s registration or identification.

– The names of the insurance companies and the policy numbers of people who were involved in the accident.

You should take a picture of the damage to the boating as well as note the location of the collision, the surrounding region, including neighboring buoys, boating damage, and casualties, if possible. Also, take note of the positions of each boating. Obtaining this evidence at the scene of the boating accident can be beneficial if you need to subsequently prove that the other boating operator was at fault.

The filing of a boating accident report is required by federal law in certain circumstances, including:

– Someone has died.

– Someone has been seriously harmed and requires medical attention other than the most basic first aid.

– Damage to the boats or property is equal to or greater than $2,000.

– A vessel is lost completely or is destroyed.

– Someone goes missing from a boat under circumstances that indicate an injury or death.

You must provide factual facts in your report, but you should not provide extraneous detail or speculate about the cause.

Even if you believe you were to blame for the boating tragedy, you should not apologize or accept responsibility. You don’t want to do anything to undermine the investigation or assume who caused the accident without considering all of the facts. In reality, you should seek the advice of an expert boating accident attorney who can help you file the necessary paperwork and pursue your entitlement to compensation.

If you’re debating whether or not to call a boating accident lawyer, keep in mind that the longer you wait, the more likely information will be lost. There will be missed deadlines, and your rights will be unwittingly waived. An attorney can assist you in filing accident reports with the appropriate law enforcement agencies as well as gathering the necessary documents.

Step 4: Speak With a Boating Accident Lawyer

Seek the advice of a boating accident attorney following a recreational boating accident, before calling the insurance company and submitting claims. If at all possible, avoid communicating with insurance companies and instead rely on your attorney. You’ll be defending your rights from the start if you do so.

If you were injured in a boating accident, a personal injury lawyer can assist you in constructing your claim and obtaining just compensation for your losses. This is available at Coleman Law Group.

You’ll be able to assess the damage and calculate the appropriate compensation for medical treatment costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage. Your lawyer will also assist you in meeting critical deadlines related to the filing of claims. As a result, contact an attorney as soon as possible to avoid losing out on appropriate recompense.

Step 5: Claim With Your Insurance Company.

You will only contact your insurance company and register a claim after receiving legal guidance. You’ll need all of the accident-related records, reports, and receipts before you file, and your attorney can assist you to make sure you have them all. 

They will almost certainly include:

– Reports filed with a law enforcement agency or incident reports. These reports include important details to back up your claim, such as any safety violations or tickets issued.

– After collecting contact information at the scene of the accident, your legal team will gather witness accounts.

– Photographs of the incident, showing the position of the boats involved, damages, injuries, and any other critical information relevant to your case. Any images of alcoholic beverage containers, for example, will be useful.

– Medical costs and records for accident-related medical assessments and treatments

– Any further proof that your attorney has identified

Following these procedures, you should consult with an expert boating accident lawyer to see what you may be entitled to before speaking with an insurance adjuster about the accident. 

Remember that the longer you wait to submit a personal injury claim after a boating accident, the more difficult the procedure will become. Call our staff right away to make sure you haven’t missed any critical deadlines and are still eligible for compensation.

Boating Accidents in Tampa: Common Causes

In Tampa, all boating operators, including those operating personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, are required to exercise extreme caution when out on the water. When a boating operator acts carelessly, recklessly, or negligently, everyone around them is at risk.

The following are some of the most common causes of boating accidents in Tampa:

– Failure to pay attention to what is going on around you.

– The vessel’s operator was rash or negligent.

– Speeding in an unsafe or excessive manner.

– When you’re under the influence of alcohol, you shouldn’t go boating. 

– Lack of experience/knowledge on the part of the operator.

– Failure or malfunction of boating equipment.

– Proximity to other boats/vessels.

– Not keeping an eye out for skiers or Jet Skis.

Boating accidents occur for a variety of reasons and are only second to car accidents in frequency. A boating operator is frequently negligent in some way, such as speeding, operating a boating while inebriated, or being untrained. In certain circumstances, you may be entitled to seek further compensation through legal action in addition to the insurance claim.

Proving negligence is a complex and time-consuming procedure, and it’s one where having an attorney on your side may help. You may be able to take legal action against a variety of parties, including:

– If a defect directly caused the accident, the operator of the boating, the owner of the boating, or the manufacturer of the boating or its equipment will be held liable.

– You may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death case if death occurs.

Make An Appointment With a Tampa Boating Accident Lawyer Right Now.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, you will need the assistance of an experienced legal team to help you file an insurance claim and pursue any legal action that may be necessary. As quickly as possible, contact Coleman Law Group boating accident lawyers.

Please contact Coleman Law Group boating accident attorneys as soon as possible so that we can fight for you!

When a boating accident occurs, our law firm understands what is involved, and we know how to develop your case, preserve your legal rights, and assist you in obtaining just compensation. Coleman Law Group fights for a victory! Make an appointment with us now.