Were you injured by a drunk boater in South Florida? Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyer Joseph Maus may be able to help you recover just compensation.

In South Florida, boating is a way of life, and most people go their entire lives without being involved in an incident on the water. Unfortunately, while most boaters operate their vessels safely, some make the extremely poor decision to drink and then get behind the helm.

Similar to drunk driving accidents, drunk boating accidents are governed by the law of negligence. Boating under the influence (BUI) is clearly negligent, and drunk boaters deserve to be held accountable for the consequences of their mistakes. Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyer Joseph Maus represents victims of BUI accidents throughout South Florida, and he can use his decades of experience to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.

When Can You Seek Financial Compensation After a BUI Accident?

Under Florida law, individuals who are injured and families who have lost loved ones have clear legal rights following BUI accidents. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in any of the following scenarios, you should speak with a Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyer promptly:

• You were riding in a boat being operated by someone who was drunk – From cruise ships to twenty-foot fishing boats, passengers can recover financial compensation for BUI accidents involving all types of vessels.
• A drunk boater hit your boat on the water – If you or your loved one was involved in a collision on the water and the operator of the other vessel was drunk, the drunk boater’s insurance policy or employer should provide full coverage for your family’s losses.
• A drunk passenger caused a boating accident – If a drunk passenger tried to take the wheel, pushed you into the water or did anything else to cause a serious accident, the passenger could be fully liable.

How Do You Prove Liability for BUI?

In order to recover financial compensation for a BUI accident, you must be able to prove that the accident was the result of someone else’s intoxication. Oftentimes, there will be multiple witnesses, and these witnesses will be able to testify as to the at-fault individual’s level of impairment. If the Coast Guard responded to the accident, the accident report may also help establish liability.

From GoPro and security camera footage to the drunk boater’s own posts on social media, there are several other potential sources of evidence as well. In order to collect this evidence before it disappears, it will be important for you to hire a boat accident attorney to investigate the accident as soon as possible.

Get the Help You Need to Recover Financial Compensation for Your BUI Accident

Do you need to recover financial compensation following a boating accident in South Florida? If so, we can help you prove liability and seek maximum compensation for your accident-related losses. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyer as soon as possible, call 855-999-5297 or tell us how we can reach you online now.