Yes, you can sue for disfigurement after a boat accident in Florida if someone else’s carelessness caused or contributed to the accident that resulted in the harm to you. If the person is liable for the accident, he is responsible for the damages.

How a Boating Accident Can Cause Disfigurement

Although they are great fun, boats are also prone to accidents that can cause injuries. For example, two boats can collide with each other, or a boat can:

  • Strike an object floating in the water
  • Hit a fixed object in the water
  • Run aground
  • Suddenly stop, start, or change direction unexpectedly, tossing the passengers about in the boat or sending them overboard
  • Run over a swimmer or water-skier
  • Explode or catch on fire

Boating Accident Injuries

The various types of incidents that can happen when on the water can cause injuries that range from uncomfortable to catastrophic. Some of the more common injuries that can happen in boating accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Bruises
  • Burns
  • Lacerations
  • Dismemberment /Loss of limbs
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Permanent scars and disfigurement

How We Determine if Someone is Liable for Your Damages

Let’s say that no one was careless, but you got hurt on a boat. You cannot sue other people just because they were there or because they owned the boat. The person you sue must have been negligent, and that carelessness must be the thing that caused the boating accident that injured and disfigured you.

To hold someone responsible for your injuries, we have to prove all three elements:

  • The defendant (the person you are suing) must have owed you a duty of care. Let’s say that you were on a commercial “day cruise.” The captain had a duty to operate the boat safely.
  • Breach of the duty of care. It is negligence to breach the applicable duty of care. If the captain was drinking alcohol to the point of impairment, he violated his duty of care and was negligent.
  • If the alcohol consumption caused the accident that resulted in your injuries and disfigurement, the captain and boating company will be responsible for your losses.

Damages for Disfigurement from a Boat Accident

Every personal injury case is different, so we cannot say how much compensation you can collect for your injuries and disfigurement, but in general, victims of boating accidents can pursue compensation for the losses they suffered as a result of the incident, including:

  • Medical expenses to treat the injuries, such as the ambulance, hospital and emergency room costs, surgery, doctors, physical therapy, and any other reasonable treatment for the injuries
  • Additional procedures, like skin grafts and plastic surgery needed to minimize scarring and other disfigurements
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium

How to Get Legal Help for Disfigurement from a Boat Accident

The Montero Law Center helps people who suffer harm from the carelessness of others. We handle personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that we only get paid when you get compensation. Call us today at 954-767-6500 to get a free consultation if you are thinking about suing for disfigurement after a boat accident. There is no obligation.