Holiday Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you can benefit from a Holiday maritime injury lawyer’s in-depth knowledge of maritime law, to guide you through this difficult body of law and pursue compensation. Contact a skilled personal injury attorney today, and know that you are in capable hands.
Maritime Law Explained
Maritime law, which is also called Admiralty law, applies to navigation, shipping, insurance, as well as events that happen on the water, piers, wharves, and to seamen and workers whose jobs are on the water.
Both substantive law, meaning a law’s responsibilities and rights, and the procedures for adjudicating cases are covered. Maritime law has its basis in the U.S. Constitution in dealing with interstate and foreign business matters.
Admiralty jurisdiction, meaning the location where this body of law applies, has its own court system and states cannot infringe on that jurisdiction. However, Florida and some other states have bodies of maritime law, too, when the legal matters at hand are mostly local.
Negligence Laws in Holiday
Florida’s comparative negligence doctrine is used to determine who is at fault in a boating accident. The doctrine requires that those who are on the water treat others on the water in ways that do not cause harm or property damage.
The law also shares financial responsibility depending on the percentage of blame assessed by a jury and damages are reduced by the percentage of blame. An experienced Holiday maritime injury lawyer can further explain these legal principles.
Waterborne Accident Causes
The majority of waterborne incidents happen because craft operators are inexperienced or acting carelessly or recklessly by speeding or drinking alcohol, according to the Division of Law Enforcement of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Operators and watercraft owners are not required by state law to complete a class explaining the rules of the water and safety procedures. Bays, sounds, and restricted areas are the sites where the most injuries and deaths occur. The commission states that 44 percent of accidents are caused by collisions. The majority of these accidents occur when cruising, altering direction, or changing speed.
The most common injuries in maritime injury accidents are to the head and back, broken bones, contusions, and lacerations. The passengers on watercrafts comprise 60 percent of those who are hurt while the operators account for the remainder, the commission reports.
Reporting Maritime Accidents
Serious accidents must be reported promptly to proper authorities, and serious is defined when:
- Death occurs
- Disappearances in situations that suggest possible injury or death
- Medical treatment, other than first aid, is necessary
- A vessel is a total loss
- A minimum of $2,000 in property damage occurs to the vessel or other property
Those who are involved in watercraft accidents must stay at the scene and render aid to the injured under Florida law.
Consulting a Holiday Maritime Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered in any type of maritime injury accident, make sure to contact a Holiday maritime injury lawyer immediately. A compassionate legal advocate can review the evidence, and begin building your case. Speak with a lawyer who can attempt to receive the maximum compensation possible for your pain and injuries.