A boating accident can turn a day on the water into a crisis with no warning. Whether you were struck by a reckless operator on the Intracoastal Waterway, injured on a friend’s vessel near Port Everglades, or hurt in a collision on the New River, the aftermath is disorienting: pain, mounting medical bills, and no clear answers about what comes next. Our Fort Lauderdale boat accident lawyers at Your Insurance Attorney are ready to pursue full compensation on your behalf and take on the insurance companies standing in the way.
We represent injured boaters across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. No upfront costs. No fees unless we win.
Call 888-570-5677 for a free case review.
- Operator inattention: Federal navigation rules require every vessel operator to maintain a proper lookout at all times. Failure to do so is both a statutory violation and direct evidence of negligence in a civil claim.
- Excessive speed: Operating a vessel too fast for traffic, visibility, or water conditions causes collisions and passenger ejections at an alarming rate.
- Inexperienced operators: Florida does not require a full boating license for most recreational vessels. Inexperienced operators regularly take the helm on busy waterways with no training.
- Boating under the influence (BUI): In 2024, alcohol and drug use contributed to 36% of all fatal boating accidents in Florida.
- Wake and wave hazards: Improper wake management near docks, shallow canals, and other vessels causes serious injuries to passengers and people in the water.
- Equipment failure: Mechanical defects, inadequate safety equipment, and improper maintenance can shift liability to a boat owner, manufacturer, or rental company.
- Nighttime operation: Low visibility on Fort Lauderdale’s canals and offshore waters after dark is a consistent risk factor in serious crashes.
Under Florida Statute § 327.35, operating a vessel with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is a criminal offense, treated the same as a DUI on land. The FWC and local marine law enforcement conduct BUI patrols throughout Broward County waterways, particularly on weekends and during boating events.
When BUI is a factor in your accident, it strengthens your civil claim significantly. Proof of intoxication establishes negligence directly and makes it much harder for the defense to argue that you shared responsibility for the crash.
You can pursue full compensation for your economic losses and for the personal impact this accident has had on your life.
A successful boat accident claim in Florida can include recovery for:
- Medical expenses: Emergency transport, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and all follow-up care
- Future medical costs: Ongoing treatment for serious injuries including spinal damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and nerve damage
- Lost wages: Income you were unable to earn while recovering
- Reduced earning capacity: When injuries limit your ability to work long-term
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: When injuries result in lasting physical limitations or visible scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life: When your injuries prevent activities that mattered to you before the accident
- Wrongful death damages: When a family member was killed in a boating accident, surviving family members may pursue compensation under the Florida Wrongful Death Act (F.S. §§ 768.16 to 768.26)
- Get to safety and seek medical care immediately. Boat accident injuries are not always visible at first. Traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries may not present symptoms for hours. Go to an emergency room the same day, even if you feel relatively okay.
- Report the accident. Under Florida Statute § 327.301 , accidents involving death, serious injury, or property damage of $2,000 or more must be reported to the FWC or local law enforcement. Accidents involving death must be reported immediately. Other reportable accidents must be filed within 48 hours. You can initiate a report through the FWC’s boating safety division.
- Document everything on the water. Photograph the vessels, the scene, your injuries, and any safety equipment. Capture the name, registration number, and contact information of the other operator.
- Collect witness information. Get names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the accident or was on the water nearby.
- Preserve your life jacket and clothing. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) and other gear can be critical evidence showing what safety precautions were or were not in place.
- Do not give a statement to any insurance company. Marine insurers and liability carriers are trained to use your words to reduce your payout. Call an attorney before you speak to any adjuster.
- Call Your Insurance Attorney immediately. Evidence on the water disappears faster than evidence on land. The sooner we are involved, the stronger your position.
The answer depends on which law applies to your case, and the difference matters.
Most boat accident claims in Florida fall under one of two legal frameworks. If your case is governed by Florida state law under Chapter 327, the deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident, under Florida’s 2023 tort reform (HB 837, F.S. § 95.11).
But if the accident occurred on navigable waters, such as the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway, the New River, or in the Atlantic offshore, federal maritime law may apply alongside or instead of state law. Under that federal framework, the deadline can extend to three years.
| Scenario | Legal Framework | Key Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Canal/Intracoastal | Florida State Law | 2 Years |
| Offshore/Navigable | Federal Maritime Law | 3 Years |
| Wrongful Death | Florida Statutes | 2 Years (Usually) |
Which deadline governs your specific case depends on where the accident happened and under what circumstances. Getting that wrong can permanently eliminate your right to compensation, regardless of how clear the negligence was.
Do not guess. The sooner an attorney evaluates your situation, the more time there is to build your case properly and file under the correct framework.
Call 888-570-5677 or submit your case online. Free review. No fees unless we win.
Q: Does the boat owner’s insurance cover my injuries as a passenger? A: In most cases, yes. Boat owners typically carry marine liability insurance or a watercraft liability rider on their homeowner’s policy. That coverage extends to passenger injuries when the owner or a permitted operator is at fault. The insurer will assign an adjuster whose job is to minimize the payout. Your Insurance Attorney handles these insurers directly from day one so you receive what you are actually owed, not a fast settlement designed to close the file cheaply.
Q: What if the boat that injured me was a rental? A: Rental companies in Florida carry legal duties to screen operators, provide safety briefings, and maintain their vessels in safe operating condition. If a rental company failed on any of those fronts, they may share liability for your injuries. Florida law requires rental operators to document who was running the vessel and when, which creates a paper trail your attorney can work with immediately.
Q: Can I file a claim if the operator was a friend or family member? A: Yes, and this situation comes up often. Filing a claim in most cases means filing against the boat owner’s insurance policy, not suing the individual personally. Your attorney can handle the process in a way that pursues the compensation you may be entitled to while keeping the situation as straightforward as possible.
Q: What if the accident happened offshore in the ocean? A: Offshore accidents on navigable waters may fall under federal maritime law rather than Florida state law. Maritime cases involve different rules around liability, damages, and filing deadlines. Working with an attorney who understands both state and federal frameworks ensures your claim is filed correctly and that you do not lose rights by choosing the wrong path.
Not wearing a life jacket does not automatically eliminate your right to compensation. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, it may reduce your recovery by a percentage if the defense proves it contributed to your specific injuries. It does not bar your claim. An attorney can evaluate how this factor applies to your situation and build a strategy around it.
Leaving the scene of a boating accident that results in injury is a felony under Florida Statute § 327.30. If the operator fled, report it to the FWC and local law enforcement immediately. Witness accounts, marina security footage, and vessel registration records can help identify the responsible party, and your attorney can assist in that investigation from day one.
Yes. The Intracoastal Waterway, the New River, and Fort Lauderdale’s canal network are all navigable waterways governed by Florida vessel safety laws. Accidents on these waterways follow the same legal standards as open-water accidents, and in some cases federal maritime law applies as well.
Charter operators carry a legal duty of care to every passenger on board. If you were injured due to the operator’s negligence, unsafe vessel conditions, or lack of proper safety equipment, the charter company and its insurer may be liable. These cases often n Content
Champ Crawford
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