Florida Diving Accident Attorney

Owners and operators of boats and swimming pools are responsible for complying with regulations and codes that govern safety requirements, licensing and maintenance. When injuries or fatalities occur as a result of safety violations or a failure to adhere to the law, both can be held financially liable.

At Ferrer Shane, PL, our personal injury attorneys recover compensation for family members of drowning victims and people injured in boating or swimming pool accidents. We have the investigative resources needed to determine what happened, who was at fault, and what should have been done to prevent an accident from happening.

If you’ve been seriously injured in a boating accident or have lost a family member due to a swimming pool drowning, contact a personal injury lawyer at Ferrer Shane, PL, today.

Boating Accidents and BUI

Most boating accidents involve alcohol and an impaired boat operator. However, depending on how quickly law enforcement responds to the scene of an accident, verifying the blood alcohol content (BAC) of a boat operator may not be as straightforward as in cases involving drunk motorists. That’s why our attorneys interview eyewitnesses, check credit card receipts, review restaurant tabs at the marina, and recreate the hours and minutes leading up to our client’s accident.

Additionally, boat owners and operators are responsible for the safety of their vessels. Consequently, they can be held for on-board fires, explosions, snapped cables, failed rigging and mechanical failures that result in injury. Furthermore, if someone drowns due to a lack of life preservers, owners and operators can be held liable for failing to adhere to safety regulations.

Drowning, Diving Accidents, and Swimming Pools

Owners and operators of swimming pools are required to adhere to safety regulations and codes governing the operation, securing, and construction of pools. Homeowners who fail to properly construct a fence, gate, or secure perimeter around their pool can be held liable for drowning deaths and injuries that occur as a result of children wandering onto their property and falling into a pool.

Likewise, public swimming pools or pools at motels and hotels are required to adhere to safety regulations. The absence of a lifeguard, unmarked water levels, or an improperly installed diving board creates liability for pool operators. Even in cases where motels or hotels have posted signs stating, “No life guard present – swim at your own risk,” liability isn’t automatically suspended. Here, the issue is one of foreseeability and whether an unattended pool involves the violation of a proper duty of care. As such, posting a sign doesn’t magically relieve a hotel or motel of liability.

Contact Our Boating Accident Attorneys

The effects of a near-drowning can be significant: brain damage, cognitive impairment or lung damage are some of many possible injuries. In order to accurately quantify the financial impact of a drowning injury or wrongful death, our attorneys work closely with medical economists and life care planners. We understand how to present the facts and leverage our client’s case. To schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can help you, contact a boating accident attorney at Ferrer Shane, PL, today.