Sarasota Boating Accident Lawyer

People living in and visiting the city and county of Sarasota have wonderful opportunities for enjoying recreational boating and other personal watercrafts. Unfortunately, however, too many boaters in Florida are not safe on the water. Whether due to alcohol, other reckless behavior or inexperience, numerous boating accidents and accident injuries occur here. In such cases, a Sarasota boating accident lawyer can provide essential support.

Florida consistently leads the nation in both registered vessels and boating accidents. As of 2024, the state reported over 1,030,000 registered watercraft, along with an estimated 1 million unregistered vessels also in use. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, boating accidents rose from 659 in 2023 to 665 in 2024. Tragically, fatalities increased as well, climbing from 59 to 81 in just one year—underscoring the growing need for awareness, safety, and legal accountability on Florida’s waterways.

These accidents often cause serious injuries or death. Accident victims may fall overboard and drown, or they may suffer life-threatening spinal cord injuries, head injuries, other internal injuries, or broken bones.

The trauma of a boat accident can affect the entire family of the accident victim. Accident injuries may cause pain, emotional distress, loss of productivity, loss of income, and financial stress. That’s a lot to deal with all at once.

The Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys boating accident lawyers understand these challenges. We want to help you in this difficult time. We have years of experience advocating for Florida accident victims. Thus, we can help you achieve justice and obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and suffering.

WHAT ARE COMMON FLORIDA BOATING ACCIDENT INJURIES?

Boating accidents, unfortunately, can cause many types of injuries, including death by drowning. Injuries can be severe and life-changing. These include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, lung injuries, and bone fractures.

Injury-causing boat accidents often occur when a vessel collides with another vessel or with a fixed object, such as a dock or a rock. Collisions can cause multiple injuries, and people on water skis, jet skis, inner tubes, and other personal vessels are most vulnerable to severe injuries.

WHAT TYPES OF BOATING ACCIDENTS OCCUR IN SARASOTA?

Sarasota County is famous for being a boater’s paradise. The Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay provide exceptional recreational boating experiences for all types of water vessels. The popularity of boating in Sarasota and throughout the state means that many people get to enjoy the pleasures of being out on the water. However, it also means that more boating accidents will occur.

Statistics from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is in charge of boating safety for the state, show that the most common type of boating accident in Sarasota County is a collision with a fixed object or with another vessel. Other causes of boating accidents in Sarasota include boats getting swamped, collisions with floating objects or persons, and people falling overboard. The most common types of vessels involved in Sarasota boating accidents are open motorboats, cabin motorboats, personal watercraft and sailboats with auxiliary power.

HOW A DENNIS HERNANDEZ SARASOTA BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER CAN HELP INJURED VICTIMS

Florida law allows you to hold a negligent or reckless boat operator liable if their actions caused an accident that injured you or a loved one. You may be able to file a claim against the operator. In some cases, you can file against the vessel’s owner. This claim seeks damages for the physical, emotional, and financial harm that the accident caused to you and your family.

The Dennis Hernandez Sarasota boating accident attorneys have exceptional litigation skills honed through years of experience. We dedicate ourselves to helping boating accident victims in Sarasota and across Florida recover the substantial compensation they deserve. We hold at-fault boat operators accountable—especially those who acted negligently, operated under the influence, or ignored standard vessel safety procedures.

As your lawyers, we will fight for justice and the compensation you deserve by:

• Thoroughly investigating the accident and collecting evidence of negligence on the part of the other vessel operator.
• Building a powerful case demonstrating that the other vessel operator was at fault for the accident and should be held liable for the damages you suffered.
• Examining your medical records and collecting medical evidence to demonstrate the full extent of your injuries and healthcare needs, now and in the future.
• Negotiating aggressively with the at-fault operator’s insurance company and attorney to get you the substantial settlement you deserve.
• Fighting in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

At Dennis Hernandez, we don’t back down. We don’t stop fighting until we achieve justice for our clients.

HOW MUCH FINANCIAL COMPENSATION CAN SARASOTA BOATING ACCIDENT VICTIMS RECEIVE?

The amount of compensation you may receive depends on how severely you were injured. It also depends on how your injuries affect your life now and will continue to affect your life in the future. Additionally, it considers whether the negligent boat operator was completely or partially at fault. A skilled, dedicated, and experienced Sarasota boating accident lawyer can help ensure you get the maximum compensation that the law provides for your situation.

Compensation may be available for:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Diminished capacity to enjoy life
• Property damage
• Other damages recoverable under Florida law

GET HELP FROM AN EXPERIENCED SARASOTA BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER

A Dennis Hernandez Sarasota boating accident lawyer has the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. We will thoroughly investigate the accident and consult with medical experts to get the facts needed to prepare a powerful case. This case will demonstrate the full extent of your need for compensation.

We will fight for your rights in negotiations with insurance companies, and we will not back down. Unlike many other Sarasota accident attorneys, we always prepare thoroughly to take a case as far as necessary and go to court to get our clients the justice and compensation they deserve. We will support and advocate for you every step of the way.

Fill in the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website, or call us at 855.529.3366 to get started on your case.