Were you recently injured in a boating accident in Port St. Lucie, FL? Call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group at (772) 758-1966 for a free consultation. Our experienced Port St. Lucie boating accident lawyers are ready to help you take action and fight for a meaningful financial recovery.
For more than two decades, our law firm has been a trusted name in personal injury litigation in Port St. Lucie. We’re award-winning Florida trial attorneys whose collective experience spans more than 50 years. As fierce and unwavering advocates for justice, we’ve helped clients win hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary awards.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Graves Thomas Rotunda to Help Me After a Boating Accident in Port St. Lucie, FL?
Boat accidents can be terrifying. The process of trying to recover compensation from a negligent boat operator, boat rental company, or insurance carrier can be exhausting and overwhelming. That’s why boat accident victims in Port St. Lucie, Florida know to call Graves Thomas Rotunda in their time of need.
Our Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyers don’t just level the playing field in tough cases like these; we give our clients the edge needed to maximize their case results.
Client-focused and results-driven representation has earned us honors and accolades, including the following:
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum members
- AV Preeminent litigators by Martindale-Hubbell
We have the experience, skills, and winning reputation needed to take on powerful corporations and achieve life-changing results for our clients. Reach out to us today for a free consultation with a Port St. Lucie boating accident lawyer.
How Much Is My Boating Accident Case Worth?
Every boater who’s involved in an accident on the open waters off the coast of Port St. Lucie will have a different experience.
It’s the things that make your situation unique – how your boating accident has changed your life, in particular – that will influence the amount of money you might be able to recover through a personal injury claim, including:
- What types of physical injuries have you sustained?
- Were you hospitalized?
- How long will it take for you to recover fully from your boating accident injuries?
- Has the boat accident affected your ability to work or bring in an income?
- Are you getting blamed for the boat accident?
- How old are you?
- What out-of-pocket costs have you had because of the boating accident?
- How has your ability to live your life changed since the crash?
The more things change, and the more boat accident-related costs you incur, the more you can expect to get through a boat accident settlement or jury verdict at trial.
What Types of Damages Can Be Awarded to Port St. Lucie Boating Accident Victims?
When you’ve suffered injuries in a boat accident in Port St. Lucie because someone else was careless, you can file a civil claim to hold them financially responsible for your damages.
Specifically, you can pursue two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. Each helps you deal with different aspects of life after a boat accident.
Economic damages are paid to cover your monetary losses, such as:
- Present and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Disability
- Out-of-pocket costs
Non-economic damages are awarded to help you deal with the harder-to-value aspects of being involved in a traumatic boat accident, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic physical pain
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pain and suffering
Our Florida boat accident lawyers in Port St. Lucie will carefully evaluate your monetary losses and consider how your life has changed. Working with experts and specialists, we’ll build a powerful legal claim.
If the negligent party or their insurance company refuses to make things right by extending a fair settlement offer, our top-rated Florida trial attorneys won’t hesitate to take your boat accident lawsuit to court.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Boating Accident Attorney in Port St. Lucie?
Our boating accident attorneys in Port St. Lucie, FL, represent clients on a contingency fee basis. We don’t get paid until we recover compensation for your boat accident case.
This arrangement enables you to receive award-winning legal representation without worrying about the cost. If we win compensation for you, our attorney fees will be deducted from your settlement or jury verdict.
If we lose your case, you won’t owe us anything.
Can I Still Get Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Boat Accident in Florida?
Yes, you can get compensation for a boat accident in Port St. Lucie, FL, as long as you’re not entirely at fault.
Florida’s modified comparative fault rule applies to boat accident cases. Under the rule, damages are reduced in direct proportion to fault – up to 50 percent. If you were 20 percent to blame for a Port St. Lucie boating accident, your financial award would be limited to 80 percent of its value.
Once your assigned fault is greater than half, you’ll lose the right to hold another party accountable for your damages.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All Your Boating Accident Injuries
At Graves Thomas Rotunda, we’re here to help you pursue compensation for all of your boat accident injuries, including:
- Drowning injuries
- Hypothermia injuries
- Hypoxic brain injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Burn injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Vision or hearing loss
- Leg injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- The wrongful death of someone you love
Seek prompt medical care after a boat accident on the Atlantic Ocean or another waterway near Port St. Lucie. Obtaining treatment and documenting your injuries will be crucial – especially if you decide to pursue legal action in the future.
What Are the Leading Causes of Boat Accidents in Florida?
In 2024, Florida reported the highest number of boating accidents nationwide, with a total of 632. This included 70 fatal boating accidents and 75 boat accident fatalities.
Even though Florida has boating safety laws and regulations on the books, there are still multiple boat accidents across the state every day. Most of these boat accidents happen because people simply aren’t careful and don’t appreciate the significant risks of unsafe boating practices.
Many boat accidents are caused by:
- Operator inattention
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Drug and alcohol use
- Speeding
- Failing to maintain a proper lookout
- Distracted boating
- Violating local navigation rules
Bad weather is another common factor in boating accidents. Sudden storms, choppy waves, or limited visibility can make it difficult for even skilled operators to stay in control. Busy waterways during tourist season add to the danger, with too many boats sharing the same space. Many of these accidents could be avoided if boaters checked the forecast, slowed down, and stayed cautious. When they don’t, passengers, swimmers, and other boaters often pay the price.
Mechanical failures, boat defects, and intentional misconduct can also contribute to boat accidents.
Who Could Be Liable for My Boat Accident?
In Florida, all parties whose negligent or harmful actions contribute to a boat accident can be responsible for damages.
Many times, liability for a boating accident belongs to a:
- Boat operator
- Boat rental company
- Vessel owner
- Tour boat company
- Boat mechanic
- Boat manufacturer
Whether your boat ran aground, collided with another vessel, struck a fixed object, or were involved in another type of accident, it’s important to conduct a thorough investigation. Knowing the cause is instrumental in building a legal claim for damages. Once the cause is identified, liability will become clearer.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boat Accident in Florida?
Barring any exceptions, most boat accident cases in Florida are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
The two-year filing deadline is two years from the date of a boat accident or the victim’s passing, whichever is later.
You have to file your personal injury lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out. When time expires, you’ll likely lose the ability to pursue damages and hold a negligent boat operator accountable for the harm their mistakes have caused.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Skilled Port St. Lucie Boating Accident Lawyer
After getting in a kayak accident, jet ski accident, tour boat accident, or any other type of boat accident in Port St. Lucie, Florida, you may be entitled to compensation. Our top-rated Port St. Lucie boating accident attorneys want to help you fight for the maximum case results you deserve under the law.
We’re nationally recognized civil trial attorneys with a multi-million dollar track record of success. Our fierce dedication to justice has allowed us to change the lives of countless injury victims and families in Florida.
Now, we’re here to help you navigate this difficult time and fight for your best interests after a boat accident, too. Contact our Graves Thomas Rotunda today to schedule a free consultation.
