JACKSONVILLE Boating accident attorney

Thousands are injured and hundreds are killed in boating accidents each year. Most types of watercraft accidents and injuries occurring as a result of BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) or BUI (Boating Under the Influence), boat crashes, jet ski / wave runner accidents, including drowning accidents. With over 1 million boats registered in the state of Florida in 2022 there were 751 boating accidents reported, resulting in 469 injuries and 60 fatalities. FWC Report.

Most boating accidents are preventable. The majority are caused by operator inexperience or inattention. Many boat operators simply underestimate the dangers of operating boats. The most frequent cause of fatal boating accidents was capsizing, followed by collisions with other vessels, and individuals falling overboard. Alcohol consumption is a factor in many boating accidents. The United States Coast Guard estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 are more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than an operator who has not been drinking.

The Personal Injury division of Phillip’s, Hunt, Walker and Hanna is here for you if you have been involved in a boating accident. Phillips, Hunt, Walker & Hanna is located at 212 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202. You can submit a free case evaluation online at Floridajustice.com or over the phone at (904) 444-4444.

If you or someone close to you has been injured in a watercraft accident you should consult an experienced and capable personal injury law firm to handle your claim and secure the necessary evidence without delay.

Get to a doctor and document your injuries. Not only does being proactive help your health, but insurance carriers and their lawyers always look to use evidence against you- how long you took to get to a doctor, what you complained about or didn’t complain about and they will comb through your records in painful detail. Go to the doctor, be honest and detailed.

Fill out any available accident reports and police reports. Ask for a copy. Then, call your insurance carrier and make a claim. Be careful what you say. All too often, injury victims will say they are “fine” or “not that bad” or otherwise be polite and that will haunt then if their injuries take a turn for the worse. The ER will only really tell you if you have broken bones or major issues, but go and be honest. Hospital emergency rooms tend to leave the bulging discs, herniated discs, shoulder tears and the like to later treating doctors.

Many of our clients are hurting, struggling and hoping they get better, but aren’t. You get one shot at recovery. Lawyers must make sure the insurance companies are acting fairly. John worked for eight years defending these claims for these companies and big businesses and could write a book about ways they use your desire to be fair and reasonable against you. He now solely works for injury victims like you.

While all lawyers are allowed to advertise and anyone can basically handle a personal injury case, only Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers are allowed to identify themselves as an “expert” or as “specialist” in this area. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the area by the Supreme Court of Florida. It also means the lawyer is known for trials- pushing beyond low offers by defendants, passed a peer review and passed a tough exam. Most cases do not get that far, but it is good to have a lawyer with all of the tools in their arsenal.

Insurance carriers try to negotiate every dollar they can, because every $100 means millions in the end to their Board of Directors. Attorneys matter. Defendants and their carriers change their game plan when an experienced lawyer is involved. For that reason – and the misinformation by TV lawyers and referral services- is why people should select lawyers carefully. Also, make sure it is the lawyer who shows up to meet with you and not a mere investigator. You are haring a lawyer and deserve their time. Also, ask for sample closing costs. Some lawyers charge for faxes, phone calls, scanning, postage, “in house courier” charges and even interest in these charges.

Because of the economy, more lawyers are jumping into personal injury and should stick to what they know. Personal injury law requires knowledge about medical science and biomechanics (the forces on a body in a wreck or a fall) far greater and more specific than you’d think. The other side has doctors and millions on their side to say nothing is wrong or fight the claim.