Boat Accidents

While boating can be a relaxing past-time when enjoyed safely, a defective product on a boat or a careless boat driver can ruin your day on the water and cause serious injuries.  Boat accidents can lead to drowning and serious personal injuries.  Among the most prevalent injuries related to boat accidents are amputations, brain injuries, paralysis, spinal injuries, and child injuries.

According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, in 2009 Florida led the nation in total number of boating accidents with 620.  Alcohol use along with operator inexperience, carelessness, or inattention are the primary causes of boat accidents in Florida.  Individuals injured in boat accidents caused by others may be entitled to recover losses related to the accident, including present and future medical expenses, lost wages, and damages related to pain and suffering.

At the Law Offices of Jorge L. Flores, P.A., we pride ourselves in the firm’s client-centered approach, combined with our vast personal injury experience, which in turn results in the highest compensation available to our clients.

Compensatory damages are awarded to compensate the client for his or her injuries.  On the other hand, punitive damages are designed to go above and beyond compensating the victim for his or her injuries.   A court awards punitive damages when it wants to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from engaging in similarly reprehensible behavior.  When a boat operator’s actions are extremely dangerous, and those very dangerous behaviors result in an injury to a third party, that third party may be entitled to punitive damages.