Were you or a loved one injured in a boating accident in Orlando, FL? Injury cases on the water can be much more complicated than those that occur on dry land. An experienced Orlando boating accident lawyer at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law can help you prove your case and fight for full compensation.
Our trusted attorneys have over 100 years of legal experience between us. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars to help injury victims like you move on with your life.
The responsible party may owe you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. Contact our law offices in Orlando, Florida, to schedule a free consultation at (407) 801-3000 with an Orlando boating accident attorney and learn more about your right to compensation today.
How Can Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Help Me Recover Compensation After a Boating Accident in Orlando?
An experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer can help you tackle any challenging issues you face while on the road to recovery.
How do you know whether the insurance deal is fair? Who is actually liable for my damages? Why is the insurance company trying to blame me for the accident?
These are only some examples of the complications injury victims face. Our attorneys at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law have been recognized by Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers.
When you hire our Orlando personal injury attorneys, you gain an advocate who will:
- Identify all sources of compensation
- Compile evidence that can prove your case
- Hire experts as necessary to strengthen your claim
- Determine how much compensation you really deserve
- Push back against blame-the-victim and other insurance scare tactics
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full and fair settlement
If you’re dealing with injuries after an accident on the water in Orlando, FL, count on our team to do everything possible to fight for a full compensation award. We’re always here to discuss your case, and there’s never any obligation. Contact us today to get started.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Florida?
More recreational boats are registered in Florida than in any other state in the nation. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWC), over 1 million recreational vessels are registered statewide. That being the case, it’s not entirely surprising that Florida has more boating accidents than any other state.
Statewide, 659 boating accidents were reported in 2023. 408 people were injured in those accidents. Unfortunately, 59 fatalities were reported.
As of 2023, 35,875 recreational boats were registered in Orange County. Seven people were injured in boating accidents that year. Boat accidents caused at least $194,000 in property damage across Orange County during 2023.
Our attorneys in Orlando handle all types of boat accident claims, including those involving:
- Power and motorboats
- Rental boats
- Jet skis and waverunners
- Sailboat accidents
- Kayak accidents
- Canoe accidents
- Fishing boat accidents
- Tour boat accidents
- Commercial boat accidents
Reach out to our law firm today if you were injured in a boating accident. We’re ready to start building your claim for compensation.
How Much Money Is My Orlando Boating Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case will depend on variables that are unique to your situation.
Examples of the issues our lawyers will evaluate when assessing your case value include:
- The nature of your injuries
- The cost of your medical care thus far
- The permanence of your injuries
- The expected cost of any ongoing medical treatment or rehab
- Whether you lose any income during your recovery
- How the injury is expected to impact your future earnings
- The strength of the evidence
- The cause of the accident
You may have very little experience dealing with insurance companies. They’ll use that to their advantage. Our lawyers handle cases similar to yours on a regular basis. We know how to evaluate your losses and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Boating Accident Victims in Orlando?
Whether you file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages in Florida.
Some of the more common types of damages injury victims recover include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Insurance companies tend to diminish and downplay a victim’s injuries. Their goal is to convince you to take a lowball settlement. When that happens, victims are often left on the hook for damages that aren’t their responsibility.
The best way to get a fair deal is to hire an experienced lawyer. When a respected law firm gets involved, insurance companies are much more likely to play fair.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
A contingency fee arrangement is the most common fee structure. Like most injury law firms, our attorneys’ fees at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law depend entirely on the outcome of your case. When we recover compensation for you, you pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict. There will never be any charges until your case is resolved.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Boating Accident in Florida?
It depends on how much blame you share.
Victims in Florida lose their right to damages under the state’s modified comparative negligence law when they’re more than 50% responsible for their own injuries. Victims who share less blame take home reduced compensation awards.
Our Experienced Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Boating Accident Injuries
At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, we handle any type of injury claim, including representing victims who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Hypoxia and brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Your injuries can change your life in unexpected ways. It’s important to seek legal advice sooner rather than later. The earlier your lawyer gets involved, the better the outcome is likely to be.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents in Orlando?
As with motor vehicle accidents, accidents on the water tend to occur because someone is careless.
Some of the most common causes of boating accidents in Orlando include:
- Boat operators who aren’t paying attention to conditions on the water
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Drunk driving
- Drug use
- Speeding
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Violation of navigational rules
- Careless or reckless boat operators
- Sharp turns
- Congested or hazardous waters
- Poor weather conditions
- Poor visibility
- Mechanical failures
- Failure to maintain the boat in safe condition
- Violations of safety regulations
- Overloading the vessel
- Slippery surfaces on deck, which can cause slip and fall accidents
Ultimately, negligence is the cause of most boat accidents. When people are careless, the risk of an accident increases significantly.
An experienced attorney can help you identify the cause–or causes–of your accident and injuries. Contact our Orlando boating accident attorneys today to discuss your case with an attorney who can help.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Boating Accident in Orlando?
Most personal injury claims are based on the legal concept of negligence. Negligence is a failure to exercise a reasonable amount of caution.
The four elements you’ll have to prove to recover compensation include:
- A duty of care existed
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- That breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of the boat accident
- You suffered damages
It can be more challenging to locate evidence when an accident occurs on the water. That said, our experienced attorneys are up to the task.
When you hire us, we’ll put our team to work to locate and evaluate:
- Accident reports
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Evidence about conditions on the vessel
- Maintenance records
- Eyewitness reports
- Medical records
- Any citations issued by FWC
In the most challenging cases, we’ll bring in experts who can testify about complicated elements of your case.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Boating Accident in Florida?
While most personal injury claims are resolved through insurance negotiations, it’s important to keep the threat of a trial on the table. When insurance companies know you can’t sue them in court, they’re very unlikely to offer full compensation.
Under the statute of limitations in Florida, you have two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year period starts on the date of your accident. After two years pass, any judge will dismiss your case, and you’ll be barred from receiving compensation.
Contact a Trusted Orlando Boating Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Serious boating accidents in Orlando, FL, can be incredibly traumatizing. You can count on our legal team at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to do everything possible to maximize your financial recovery. Just call today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Orlando boating accident lawyer.