Yacht Accident Attorney

Many tourists, boat owners, and guests enjoy the wonders of sailing in the open seas upon a power vessel known as a yacht.  Yachts are typically much larger than what is considered a boat, and typically range from 33 feet in length (smaller yacht) to over 131 ft in length (a megayacht).  Yachts are used for a variety of purposes such as pleasure, racing, or cruising, and they often come equipped with a warm and inviting cabin area that contains various amenities for leisure, enjoyment, and overnight use.  

A yacht with its anchor out.

Injuries to Both Passengers and Crew Members in Yacht Accidents

Although luxurious yachts are meant for enjoyment and leisure, every year passengers and crew members sustain serious injuries aboard yachts. Accidents involving yachts are often very serious and may include incidents such as a slip and fall on a ship deck, injuries sustained from a yacht’s collision with another vessel, or even drowning from falling overboard, among other occurrences. Common injuries sustained from accidents occurring aboard yachts include, but are not limited to, concussions, head and back injuries, cuts and bruising, broken and fractured bones, brain injuries, paralysis, and unfortunately sometimes even death.

Complex Laws Governing Yacht Accidents

Applicable laws related to yacht injuries can be complex, especially because yachts travel to and from a variety of jurisdictional areas which can trigger different state laws or even the laws of various countries. Additionally, injuries that occur on the navigable waters can trigger special maritime-related laws. If you or a loved one was injured while aboard a yacht, you are encouraged to contact an experienced Yacht Accident Attorney in Miami, Florida.

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Yacht Accident Compensation and Damages

Injuries sustained from a maritime-related activity involving a yacht can be extensive. The compensation you are entitled to will vary depending on whether you were a passenger of a yacht, or an employee working aboard a yacht. 

Passengers injured aboard a yacht may be able to sue the yacht owner for compensation for the injuries sustained while aboard the yacht if the injuries were a direct result of the yacht owner’s negligence. Compensation may include damages for items such as medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages, among other items depending on the law that applies to your case.  A personal representative of a person’s estate opened up for a passenger who died for injuries sustained while on a yacht may also be able to seek damages for the deceased passenger’s estate for items such as medical bills and funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and mental anguish, among other items depending on applicable law.

Examples of negligent actions of a yacht owner include, but are not limited to, situations where the yacht owner failed to operate the yacht properly, properly maintained the yacht and its equipment, and failed to hire staff with appropriate experience for their position aboard the yacht (for example a captain), among other actions. Crew members working aboard a yacht can also sustain serious work-related injuries while working both onboard and offboard a yacht.  Accidents that occur on the navigable waters are governed by a set of laws that are different from accidents that occur only on land.  Yacht crew members who perform work aboard yachts on the navigable waters are typically covered under the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Injured workers may be able to recover against a yacht owner for items such as medical bills, lost wages, cost of rehabilitation, and pain and suffering.  An experienced Yacht Accident Attorney can help advise you on the specific laws that apply to your case as well as explain what compensation you may be entitled to for your specific injuries.

Contact a Yacht Accident Attorney at Brais Law Firm

Contact the maritime attorneys at Brais Law Firm for assistance with your maritime injuries claim involving a yacht. To reach our Florida yacht accident lawyers, you may click email the firm, call 800-499-0551 from within the U.S., Skype BraisLaw worldwide, or click contact us to select and complete a form for a free evaluation of your case.

Who Will be Handling my Case?

Your case will be handled by an experienced personal injury attorney who knows what it takes to get the results you deserve. The practitioners at our firm have over 70 years of collective trial experience. Our credentials and qualifications are extensive, including an “AV” Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. More importantly, we have a first-hand understanding of how insurance carriers operate because we represented clients insured with major insurance companies for nearly 20 years before we made a choice to change sides so that we could help the people who need us most – individuals just like you. Learn more.

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