Panama City is bustling with boats and jet skis every day. Residents and tourists enjoy the beautiful weather out on the water. It’s a fun excursion for anyone; however, many factors exist that contribute to accidents. Call a Panama City boat and jet ski accident lawyer at The Bruner Law Firm if you or your loved one sustained injuries in an accident caused by a negligent boat or jet ski operator, or if another party hurt you. We know how to investigate these claims and prove someone else’s negligence directly caused your collision. Whether you collided with another boat or jet ski, we’re able to help.
Despite your best efforts to stay safe during your outing, another individual’s careless actions could cause an accident. The feeling of knowing another boater is responsible for your injuries can be devastating. While you’re focused on your recovery, you might be unable to work and worried about how you’re going to pay your medical bills. You won’t have to go through that on your own. At The Bruner Law Firm, we dedicate ourselves to providing superior legal services to every client who hires us. You can depend on your Panama City boat and jet ski accident lawyer to advise you on your options and guide you through the complicated insurance claims process.
Since opening our firm over 25 years ago, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for boat and jet ski accident victims. We make it our goal to reach a favorable outcome in your case promptly. We don’t believe in dragging out the process for months or years. We understand your need to put this time in your life behind you as quickly as possible so you can move forward. Our team works diligently on every case that crosses their desks to ensure they get results.
All of our attorneys, paralegals, and support staff have the knowledge and skills to fight for you and ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Whether the injuries from your auto accident were minor or life-threatening, you will be a priority to us. We treat our clients like family. Whenever you need us, we will be there for you. You’ll never have to wait long to receive a callback or get the status of your claim. We take pride in the unmatched customer service we provide for everyone who talks to us. Our team of professionals is available 24/7, so you can reach us when it’s most convenient for you. If you want to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Panama City boat and jet ski accident lawyer, call us at (850) 769-9292 today.
Common Causes of Panama City Boat and Jet Ski Accidents
Many boaters and jet skiers believe the lack of vehicles along the waterways decreases the chance of an accident. However, even if you stay alert during your navigation and prepare yourself for dangerous situations, you could still fall victim to another person’s negligence. The most common causes of boat and jet ski accidents in Panama City include:
- Operator inattention
- Alcohol use
- Excessive speed
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Violating navigational rules
- Improper lookout
- Operator inexperience
If another person’s reckless behavior caused your injuries, they should suffer the consequences. We understand the financial burden you and your loved ones face. Medical bills are expensive, and if you don’t have medical insurance, you might wonder how you’re going to pay them. Florida laws state the settlement you could recover from the liable party.
How Much Compensation Am I Entitled To Recover?
Unfortunately, boat and jet ski owners in Florida are not required to carry insurance. If you discover the at-fault individual doesn’t have watercraft insurance, you might be able to file a claim against their homeowner’s insurance carrier. Many homeowner’s policies list coverage for anyone injured in an accident involving a water vessel.
Depending on the limits of liability available, you could receive financial compensation for your damages. Damages are losses incurred as a direct result of the accident. These damages will typically cover anything from the medical care you receive to repairs for your boat or jet ski. The damages you could seek compensation for include the following:
- Medical Expenses: Any treatment that was deemed medically necessary for your recovery, such as ambulance services, ER visits, surgeries, physical therapy, hospital stays, home health care, and medical assistive devices.
- Property Damage: Any necessary repairs to your watercraft.
- Lost Wages: Salary, commissions, promotions, advancement, paid time off, bonuses, and anything else you couldn’t earn because of your injuries.
- Emotional Distress: Psychological or emotional trauma you suffered after your crash that affected your regular schedule and general happiness.
- Pain and Suffering: Significant physical pain that prevented you from performing routine tasks and participating in activities you enjoyed before the incident.
- Loss of Consortium: An individual’s immediate family member might be eligible for compensation if the accident negatively affected their relationship with the victim.
- Wrongful Death: If the victim of a boating or jet skiing accident dies, their loved ones could seek compensation for expenses, such as funeral or burial costs.
If the person who caused your injuries does not have any kind of insurance coverage, you could file a claim with your insurance carrier. If you opted for UM coverage (uninsured watercraft coverage), you might be eligible for financial compensation to cover your medical expenses and other losses you’ve suffered.
Your Panama City boat and jet ski accident lawyer from The Bruner Law Firm will know how to negotiate with insurance companies and, when necessary, take your case to court. We’ve worked on countless cases just like yours. We use all the resources at our disposal to recover the maximum settlement available. We never back down from a fight. You can count on us to seek the justice you deserve so you can focus on your recovery.
Should I Hire a Panama City Boat and Jet Ski Accident Lawyer?
If you’re unfamiliar with the insurance claims process, it might not be the best option to handle it yourself. You won’t know the compensation you’re eligible to receive and the expenses that are covered. Insurance companies will look for any reason to not have to pay you or offer you a settlement that is much lower than you should receive. We know how to comb through confusing insurance policies to find the information we need and calculate the amount of money that will cover your losses. With an attorney by your side, you can feel confident knowing you will receive fair treatment.
Your Panama City boat and jet ski accident lawyer will launch a complete and thorough investigation into the incident to gather the evidence necessary to prove liability on the part of the other boater. The evidence we find will prove your injuries happened because of the other person’s actions instead of a pre-existing condition. The vital evidence we’ll work on obtaining includes:
- Police/Incident reports
- The negligent operator’s and your insurance policies
- Witness statements
- Video surveillance
- Photos
- Your medical records and medical bills
While we’re performing our investigation, you must seek treatment from a medical professional. Your initial consultation after the crash will determine if you need X-rays, surgery, or an evaluation by a specialty doctor, such as a neurologist or chiropractor. You should always follow your doctors’ instructions and visit any physician they refer you to for treatment. If there’s a gap in your treatment or you skip appointments, the insurance company will use that to deny your claim on the basis that your injuries don’t seem severe.
Negotiating with insurance companies is a complicated process when you don’t have experience. The insurance adjuster will require all the evidence we found, copies of your medical records, and anything else they believe they will need to determine how much money they’re willing to offer. If we’re unable to negotiate a settlement that’s acceptable to you, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial. We will file a lawsuit against the insurance company and possibly the other watercraft operator for a financial reward. Filing suit could potentially secure a higher award than in an insurance claim since seeking payment from the actual negligent party would be at stake.
Injured in a Boat or Jet Ski Accident? Call The Bruner Law Firm Today
We offer a free consultation to all our prospective clients. There will be no risk or obligation to speak with a Panama City injury lawyer about your situation. We will be happy to set up an appointment to review the details of your accident and determine your best options moving forward. We will provide the legal advice you need to help you make the decision that is most beneficial for you.
Our mission is to make sure insurance companies don’t take advantage of our clients. We’ll explain the legal process in detail, so you understand what to expect and how much your claim is worth. We will handle the complicated steps ourselves, so you’re able to dedicate your time to healing your physical and emotional injuries. You won’t be on your own throughout this situation. Our firm is available to take your call at any time of the day to answer your questions. We will be there to support you from the beginning of your case to the end.
Call The Bruner Law Firm at (850) 769-9292 right now if you or your loved one was the victim of a boat or jet ski accident. We’ll schedule you for your free consultation with one of our qualified attorneys immediately.
