Fort Lauderdale Boating Accident Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale Boating Accident Lawyer

At Newman Injury Law, PLLC, we represent people injured in collisions, propeller incidents, and other marine accidents throughout South Florida. Our founder has been practicing civil litigation since 2010 and handles boating injury matters with an understanding of both Florida vessel laws and the federal rules that sometimes govern these cases. Call today to speak with our Fort Lauderdale, FL boating accident lawyer. We will review what happened and tell you honestly what your case looks like.

Why Choose Newman Injury Law, PLLC for Boating Accident Cases in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Civil Litigation Background in Complex Injury Matters

Our founder, Jared K. Newman, is an experienced civil litigation attorney who has dedicated his practice to representing people harmed by the negligence of others. He earned his J.D. from South Texas Law in 2009 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 2006. Boating cases frequently involve layered factual questions about operator conduct, vessel maintenance, and whether federal maritime jurisdiction applies..

Results That Reflect Preparation

Our personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL has recovered millions of dollars for clients who have suffered serious injuries. Marine injury recoveries depend on careful development of medical evidence, reconstruction of the incident, and understanding which legal framework produces the best outcome for the injured person under the specific facts.

Connected to the South Florida Legal Community

Jared is an active member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Dade County Bar Association. Fort Lauderdale sits at the center of one of the most active recreational boating regions in the country, and familiarity with the local courts and the defense firms that handle marine claims helps us evaluate each case effectively.

No Fee Unless We Win

You pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Consultations are free. The contingency structure keeps our interests aligned with yours throughout the case.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I was in an automobile incident back in September, and just picked up my settlement check yesterday, only 5 months after the incident. Jared and his entire team were amazing, getting me seen by all of the best doctors and specialists to handle my care, and they were able to get me the full settlement amount as well through the insurance battles.” (Jake Allen)

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Boating Accident Cases We Handle in Fort Lauderdale

Boating injuries happen in many different ways, and the applicable law often depends on where the incident took place and how it occurred. Broward County’s Intracoastal Waterway, its inlets, and its ocean access produce a wide range of claims. Our firm handles the following categories of marine injury cases:

• Vessel-to-vessel collisions. Two boats colliding in open water or a channel often raise questions about navigation rules, speed, visibility, and operator distraction. Maritime law application may apply depending on the location and the nature of the vessels involved.
• Operator negligence cases. Excessive speed, inattention, improper turns, and failure to follow navigation rules cause many of the injuries we handle. The operator’s conduct is often the central issue.
• Boating under the influence incidents. Alcohol and drug impairment on the water produces serious injuries and may support punitive damages in addition to compensatory recovery. BUI enforcement in Florida mirrors automobile DUI in many respects.
• Propeller injuries. Swimmers, tubers, and passengers who fall overboard can suffer catastrophic propeller injuries. These cases often involve operator failure to shut down the engine, defective propeller guards, or inadequate passenger safety protocols.
• Wake and wash injuries. Passengers thrown from boats when hit by excessive wakes can suffer spinal injuries, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. Operator responsibility for wake-related harm is well established under maritime and state law.
• Jet ski and personal watercraft crashes. Rentals, collisions with other watercraft, and operator inexperience account for many injuries around Fort Lauderdale beaches and marinas.
• Charter boat injuries. Passengers injured on fishing charters, sunset cruises, and diving excursions may have claims against the charter operator, the captain, or the vessel owner.
• Passenger injuries on recreational vessels. Guests aboard private boats who suffer injuries from slips, equipment failures, or operator errors can often recover against the vessel’s liability insurance.
• Rental vessel incidents. Defective equipment, inadequate safety instruction, and improperly maintained rental boats can result in claims against both the rental company and the operator.
• Wrongful death. Drowning and water-related fatalities on boats can support wrongful death claims under either state law or federal maritime statutes, depending on the circumstances.
• Unseaworthy vessel claims. Injuries caused by a boat’s defective condition, inadequate equipment, or poor maintenance may support claims against the vessel owner under longstanding admiralty principles.

Florida Legal Requirements for Boating Accident Cases

Florida boating accidents can be governed by state law, federal maritime law, or both, depending on the location and circumstances of the incident. Florida’s boating safety laws appear in Chapter 327 of the Florida Statutes and cover operator requirements, equipment standards, reckless operation, and boating under the influence.

Operators involved in accidents that result in death, disappearance, injury requiring medical treatment beyond immediate first aid, or property damage above $2,000 must report the incident under Section 327.30. The FWC boating accident reporting system provides the required forms and procedures. Failure to report can carry criminal consequences for the operator and often signals consciousness of fault in a civil case.

Federal admiralty jurisdiction may apply when the incident occurs on navigable waters and bears a substantial connection to traditional maritime activity. When admiralty applies, federal rules can govern procedural questions, damages, and in some cases the choice of law. The US Coast Guard resources document federal safety standards that often overlap with state requirements, and the Coast Guard boating statistics track the leading causes of recreational boating injuries nationwide.

The statute of limitations for most Florida negligence actions, including state-law boating claims, is two years from the date of injury under Section 95.11, reduced from four years by legislation effective March 2023. Maritime claims have their own federal statute of limitations, generally three years, that can differ from the Florida period.

Florida applies a modified comparative negligence rule under Section 768.81, under which an injured person found more than 50 percent at fault recovers nothing. Maritime law, by contrast, applies pure comparative negligence, which can produce different outcomes in cases where fault is divided.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Fort Lauderdale Boating Accident Case?

Compensation in a Fort Lauderdale boating accident case generally falls into economic damages, non-economic damages, and in qualifying situations punitive damages. The specific framework depends on whether state law or federal maritime law governs the claim.

Economic damages cover past and future medical expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care for permanent injuries. Lost wages and lost earning capacity address the time missed from work and any lasting impact on your ability to earn income. Serious boating incidents often produce catastrophic injuries because victims are thrown, struck by propellers, or ejected into the water, and the medical costs frequently extend well beyond the initial treatment.

Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional trauma. Many boating injury survivors deal with psychological consequences long after their physical wounds heal, particularly in near-drowning cases or incidents involving propellers. Florida juries evaluate non-economic damages based on the severity and permanence of the injury and how it has affected the person’s daily life.

Property damage includes the injured person’s personal belongings, fishing or diving equipment, and in some cases a damaged vessel. Property claims typically run on a separate track from bodily injury claims but are often resolved in parallel with them.

Punitive damages may apply in state-law cases where the operator’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional. Boating under the influence, operating at dangerous speeds in crowded waters, and reckless behavior may trigger punitive exposure. Florida caps most punitive damages at three times the compensatory award or $500,000 under Section 768.73, with exceptions for particularly egregious conduct. Maritime cases have their own rules on punitive damages, and the Supreme Court has addressed this question in several decisions over the past two decades.

For fatal boating incidents, federal and state wrongful death frameworks can both apply depending on the facts. The High Seas Act governs deaths occurring more than three nautical miles from shore, while Florida’s wrongful death statute covers deaths in inland and near-shore waters. Boat collision liability in Florida often involves the interplay between these frameworks and requires careful legal analysis at the start of the case.

Contact Newman Injury Law, PLLC

If you have been injured in a boating accident in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere along South Florida’s waterways, we would like to hear what happened. Consultations at Newman Injury Law, PLLC are free, and there is no fee unless we win your case. We will review the incident report, medical records, insurance information, and witness accounts, then explain what Florida law and federal maritime law provide in your situation.

Marine evidence fades quickly. Boats get sold or repaired, weather conditions change, electronic data from vessel systems gets overwritten, and witness memories blur within weeks. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyer and find out where your case stands.