Boating Accident Attorney in Pompano Beach, FL

Florida and Broward Boating Accident Statistics

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission publishes annual reports regarding boating accident statistics in the state. These reports provide an overview of boating accidents by county. As such, they offer valuable insights into the water dangers that Broward County residents face, particularly since Broward County has more registered watercrafts than any other county in Florida except Lee County.

Broward County Statistics

There are over 45,000 registered recreational boats in Broward. In 2024, the county experienced 20 reportable accidents. These resulted in one fatality and 19 injuries — in addition to $494,501 in property damage. Unfortunately, Broward County isn’t the only area of our state with these devastating numbers. In 2024, there were 685 reportable boating accidents across Florida.

Florida Accident Statistics

The month of May saw the highest accident rate, but throughout the year, over 80 people died in these accidents. Worse, 36% of fatal accidents in the state involved alcohol or drugs. Simply put, Florida’s waterways can be incredibly dangerous. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to the negligence of another party, our boating accident attorneys in Pompano Beach are here to help. Contact us for a free consultation.

What To Do After a Boating Accident

If you’ve been involved in a boating or jet ski accident, everything you do from that point forward is critical. Every decision you make — or decisions you fail to make — can greatly affect your ability to recover fair compensation. That’s why it’s important to keep the following steps in mind.

Safety and Medical Care First

As any boating accident attorney in Pompano Beach will tell you, your safety always comes first.

If you’ve been involved in an accident, get out of the water immediately.

Find a safe space where you’re no longer in danger.

Next, seek medical care.

Even if you don’t believe you were seriously injured, you should still visit a doctor immediately. Some symptoms do not immediately show up, and if you don’t document your injuries, it may hinder your ability to receive fair compensation.

Reporting, Documentation, and Evidence to Save

If it’s safe to do so at the accident scene, take photos and videos of everything. If there were witnesses present, ask them to wait for the police. If they cannot do so, get their contact information.

In Florida boating accidents, it’s critical to file a police report. This will preserve important evidence. You will also need access to both vessel and GPS data. You may have trouble accessing this information, but an experienced Broward County boat accident lawyer can handle this.

How Boating Accidents Happen in South Florida

Boating accidents can be the result of negligence, distractions, reckless vessel operation, inexperience, and more. The following are the most common types of boating accidents in our state. Most incidents will fall into these categories:

• Boat Collisions with Fixed Objects
• Collisions with Another Water Vessel
• Flooding/Swamping
• Falls Overboard
• Grounding
• Struck Underwater Object
• Fire/Explosion
• Capsizing

Unfortunately, there is no single cause for these accidents. That’s why it proves so difficult to prevent such incidents. A boat accident lawyer in Broward County can review the cause of your injury — and we can potentially identify liable parties that you may not expect.

The potential for multiple liable parties becomes clear when considering the common causes of these accidents.

Top Causes in Recent Reports

When reviewing the most recent reports, the top causes of most boating accidents in Florida become clear:

• Careless Operation of a Boat: In many cases, boat captains operate the boat in a negligent manner that can lead to an accident. Reckless operation of a vessel includes allowing boat passengers to sit in inappropriate places, splashing other boats, violating low wake rules, failing to maintain a safe distance from other boats, and so on.
• Excessive Speed: Like vehicles on roadways, boats and all other watercrafts must maintain a safe speed on water. When a boater loses control of the watercraft due to excessive speed, it can lead to a serious accident.
• Boating Under the Influence (BUI): All boat operators must obey the same laws as a driver behind the wheel of a car. No one should be driving a boat under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance.
• Inexperienced Boat Driver: When the boat driver lacks the skills or experience to operate a boat safely, this can lead to an accident.
• Boat Passenger Recklessness: In some cases, the responsibility of a boating accident falls on the passengers. They must be seated while the boat is moving.
• Severe Weather: It is the boaters’ responsibility to check the weather forecast and create a plan that details where and when they’ll be boating. Choosing to operate under bad conditions can lead to a serious accident.
• Equipment Malfunction: A malfunction of a boat or jet ski can open the door for pursuing a legal claim against a manufacturer or boat mechanic.

Understanding the common types and causes of these accidents is the first step in identifying who is liable in a boating accident. Keep in mind, maritime and personal injury law protects more than just individuals injured by boats. For instance, a jet ski injury lawyer in Pompano Beach can help you pursue compensation if you were in a collision involving other watercraft types.

Simply put, the team of personal injury attorneys at Long & Jean, P.A. is here to fight on your behalf. More importantly, we don’t get paid unless you do. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Who May Be Liable, and How Claims Work

After experiencing a boating accident, victims are often left wondering who will pay for the damages. These damages can include costs to repair or replace vessels, medical bills, and other expenses. To secure compensation after a crash, your boating accident attorney in Pompano Beach must prove that another party’s negligence caused the incident.

Whether you were a passenger, another boater, or a swimmer injured on the water, holding the at-fault party accountable is the first step toward recovery. Examples of negligence in boating accidents include:

• BUI
• Speeding or reckless boating in no-wake or high-traffic areas
• Failing to keep a proper lookout or follow navigational rules
• Inadequate safety equipment or lifejackets on board
• Allowing inexperienced or unlicensed individuals to operate the vessel
• Distracted boating — such as using a phone or GPS while driving
• Mechanical failure due to poor maintenance or defective parts

In any of these cases, several potential parties may face liability. This includes vessel owner liability, charter or rental scenarios, and claims against manufacturers. At Long & Jean, P.A., our boating accident lawyers carefully investigate every detail to build a strong case on your behalf.

We gather evidence, consult experts, and identify all potential sources of liability so you can focus on healing. Due to Florida’s comparative fault system, insurers may try to claim you’re partially to blame for your injuries. This could reduce your compensation.

Our law firm knows how to deal with these tactics. You don’t have to go through this alone. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Compensation and Timelines

Boating accidents often leave more than just physical injuries — they can cause overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and long-term disability. If someone else’s negligence led to your injuries, you could pursue compensation for your losses.

At Long & Jean, P.A., our experienced boating accident attorneys in Pompano Beach work tirelessly to help victims recover the full value of their claims. We can help identify who is liable in a boat crash, investigate the accident, and pursue compensation in several ways.

We evaluate every angle of your case to ensure you’re not left covering costs that should fall on the at-fault party.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

Following a boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of losses, including the following:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity
• Property Damage
• Pain and Suffering
• Wrongful Death Damages

Whether you’re injured due to one of the common causes of Florida boating accidents or something more unusual, you may be entitled to a variety of damages. Typically, such compensation falls into three categories:

• Economic Damages: These are the measurable financial losses you’ve suffered. They include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and any future care costs related to your injuries.
• Non-Economic Damages: These are intangible losses you’ve suffered. These include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and other losses that aren’t easily quantified.
• Punitive Damages: These damages are rare, but they can be substantial. These serve as punishment to the defendant for highly egregious actions (such as BUI or knowingly ignoring maintenance issues).

Injury victims are not guaranteed to receive all these types of damages. However, a boating accident attorney in Pompano Beach can review your case and identify what types of compensation you may be entitled to. Contact our experienced legal professionals today for a free consultation.

From Claim to Settlement to Lawsuit

At Long & Jean, P.A., our experienced team of boating accident attorneys in Pompano Beach can handle your case from beginning to end. Most people believe filing a claim is the first step, but there’s a lot of work that goes into a case before taking that step.

For instance, we start by filing a notice of claim and sending spoliation letters. This lets potential liable parties know that a claim is likely and that they need to preserve evidence. After investigating your case, we’ll then start settlement negotiations.

In most cases, the process stops here. Once an insurance company knows you’re represented by an experienced attorney, they’ll often provide a fair settlement. However, our trial lawyers are ready to file a lawsuit if you’re not offered fair compensation.

Recovering compensation can be a difficult process. Let our legal team handle it on your behalf.

Why Long & Jean, P.A.?

No matter how or where your accident happened, Long & Jean, P.A., is ready to fight for your rights. We have offices conveniently located in Pompano Beach, Florida, so our maritime attorneys are local and ready to represent you and your loved ones during tumultuous times.

With over half a century of combined experience, we have the knowledge and dedication necessary to fight for the compensation you deserve. Additionally, our boating accident attorneys handle a wide range of cases, such as the following:

• Boat Collisions
• Drunk or Impaired Boating
• Reckless or High-Speed Operation
• Passenger Injuries
• Swimmer and Diver Injuries
• Charter Boat and Commercial Vessel Accidents
• Defective Boat Equipment
• Overcrowding or Overloading Accidents
• Failure to Provide Safety Gear

If your injury occurred on or around the water, we’ll investigate every angle to pursue the boat accident compensation you deserve. We know you are going through an incredibly stressful time. That’s why we’re here to take the burden off your shoulders.

In the unfortunate event that you or someone you know has been involved in a boating accident, working with our team of boating accident attorneys in Pompano Beach can make all the difference. Call (954) 715-2400 or contact us online for your free consultation today.