Royal Palm Beach Boating Accident Lawyers

When you arrange to spend the day on the water, getting into an accident is probably one of the last scenarios on your mind. In reality, though, boating accidents are fairly common, and you run the risk of serious injury every time you board a vessel.

There are countless ways to get hurt while participating in watersports, regardless of the nature of the activity. Even a seemingly lazy day of fishing can end with a devastating collision.

If you were hurt in a boating accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for the resulting damages. To determine if you have grounds for a claim, contact Donaldson & Weston.

Our Royal Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and financial stress that a serious watercraft wreck can place on you and your loved ones. Call 561-299-3999 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our boating accident lawyers.

Will I Have to Go to Trial?

Handling everyday life is challenging enough when recovering from serious injuries. Trying to navigate complicated legal proceedings on top of everything else undoubtedly feels overwhelming.

Fortunately, most boating accident claims are resolved before reaching court. Both parties have incentive to avoid trial, which means insurance companies are often willing to settle.

To facilitate the settlement negotiations, your boating accident lawyer will apply legal pressure by gathering strong evidence of liability, providing sufficient documentation for all economic damages, and consulting with expert witnesses if necessary. Even if a settlement is the expected outcome, we will prepare your case for trial. This will let the opposing party know that we are serious about seeing the case through to the end. Also, it will prevent any unnecessary delays should the case actually proceed to court.

Despite the typical path that most personal injury claims follow, there is always the chance that you will have to go to trial. And if you do, you will want a seasoned legal ally by your side every step of the way.

Factors that can impact whether your case ends up in front of a judge include:

  • The severity of your injuries and the extent of the damages you are seeking;

  • The opposing party's willingness to cooperate;

  • Your own percentage of fault;

  • Whether you intend to pursue punitive damages;

  • The strength of any evidence you have gathered;

  • The number of defendants; and

  • The overall complexity of the case.