Boat Accident Lawyer Boca Raton, FL

A day on Lake Boca or a run out the Boca Raton Inlet can turn dangerous in seconds when another boater is speeding, distracted, or drinking. Passengers can be thrown overboard, struck by a propeller, or hurt in a collision with another vessel, a dock, or a channel marker. A boat accident lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can determine who was operating carelessly, find the available insurance, and pursue compensation for the injured person. Jacobson Injury Firm represents passengers, swimmers, and boaters hurt on the water in Boca Raton and southern Palm Beach County. Contact the firm for a free consultation.

How Boat Accident Claims Work in Florida

Florida’s boating laws are found in Chapter 327 of the Florida Statutes. Several sections shape an injury claim.

Florida Statute 327.32 treats all vessels as “dangerous instrumentalities” and requires operators to use the highest degree of care to prevent injuries to others. Liability for careless operation generally falls on the person driving the boat. The owner may also be liable if the owner was operating the boat or was on board when the injury happened.

Other key rules include:

• Boating under the influence. Under Florida Statute 327.35, it is a crime to operate a vessel while impaired or with a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. A BUI arrest or conviction can be strong evidence of fault in a civil case, and the statute states that it does not bar a separate civil lawsuit.
• Boater education. Under Florida Statute 327.395, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must carry a boating safety education ID card, or an approved substitute, plus photo ID to operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.
• Accident reporting. Under Florida Statute 327.301, the operator must file a written report of any accident involving injury, death, disappearance, or at least $2,000 in property damage.

Federal maritime law may also apply to some accidents on navigable waters such as the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. That can affect fault rules and filing deadlines, which is one reason early legal review helps.

Where Boating Accidents Happen Around Boca Raton

Florida leads the nation in registered vessels, and Palm Beach County is consistently one of the state’s busiest boating counties. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2024 report placed Palm Beach County third statewide, with 45 reportable boating accidents, behind only Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Local trouble spots include:

• The Intracoastal Waterway. The ICW runs the length of Boca Raton, with drawbridges, narrow channels, manatee speed zones, and heavy weekend traffic from private boats, rentals, and personal watercraft.
• Lake Boca. This wide section of the Intracoastal, just inside the Boca Raton Inlet, is a popular anchorage and weekend party spot. The annual Boca Bash in late April draws thousands of boaters and a heavy law enforcement presence.
• The Boca Raton Inlet. The City of Boca Raton warns that the inlet continually shoals and creates hazardous navigation conditions and recommends local knowledge for safe passage.
• The Hillsboro Inlet area. Just south of Boca Raton in Broward County, this narrow ocean passage has seen boats capsize in rough seas and breaking waves.

Common Causes of Boat Accidents

Jacobson Injury Firm handles boating injury claims involving:

• Operator inattention. The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics ranked operator inattention and improper lookout as the top two primary contributing factors in boating accidents nationwide.
• Excessive speed. Speeding in crowded channels, near docks, or through idle and manatee zones
• Boating under the influence. Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time on the water just as they do on the road. Related claims are discussed on the firm’s drunk driving accident page.
• Large wakes can throw passengers overboard or swamp smaller boats, kayaks, and paddleboards.
• Rental boats and personal watercraft. Inexperienced renters may not understand right-of-way rules or how the vessel handles.
• Inlet conditions. Shoaling, strong currents, and breaking waves can catch an unprepared operator off guard.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Boat Accident?

An injured passenger or boater may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including surgery and future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Scarring and disfigurement from propeller injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life

The value of a claim depends on the injuries, the evidence of fault, and the insurance that is available.

Who Pays? Boat Insurance and Shared Fault

Unlike car owners, most owners of private recreational boats in Florida are not required by state law to carry liability insurance. Many owners buy it anyway, often because a lender requires it, but some boats have no coverage at all. A homeowner’s policy, an umbrella policy, or a business policy may sometimes apply, and a boat accident lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can search for every available source of coverage.

Rental businesses are treated differently. Under Florida Statute 327.54, a boat livery must carry insurance of at least $500,000 per person and $1 million per event, and must insure renters or offer them coverage. Liveries must also give renters pre-ride safety instruction.

Fault can be shared. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, an injured person found more than 50% at fault for their own injuries generally cannot recover, and a lower share of fault reduces the award. If federal maritime law governs, a different comparative fault rule may apply. The firm’s guide to comparative fault in Florida explains the state rule, and its page on dealing with insurance companies covers common adjuster tactics.

What Should You Do After a Boca Raton Boat Accident?

If it is safe to do so, a person involved in a boating accident should:

• Get help and render aid. Under Florida Statute 327.30, operators involved in a collision must assist others when practicable and exchange names, addresses, and vessel identification in writing.
• Report the accident. Serious accidents must be reported to the FWC, the county sheriff, or local police. In Boca Raton, the Police Services Department’s Marine Unit and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office patrol local waters.
• Get medical care. Head, spine, and internal injuries are common in boat crashes and may not be obvious at first.
• Document everything. Photograph the vessels, registration numbers, injuries, and water conditions, and get witness contact information.
• Avoid statements to the other boater’s insurer. Speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement.

The firm’s checklist on what to do after an accident covers these steps in more depth.

How Long Do You Have to File a Boat Accident Claim?

Under Florida Statute 95.11, most negligence claims must be filed within two years. If federal maritime law governs the accident, a three-year deadline under 46 U.S.C. § 30106 may apply instead.

Which deadline applies depends on the facts, so the safest course is to act well within two years. The firm’s overview of the Florida statute of limitations explains related rules.

No Fee Unless We Win

Jacobson Injury Firm handles boat accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and no attorney fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

Clients work directly with attorney Adam Jacobson, who is licensed in Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois. He prepares each case as if it may go to trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common are boating accidents in Florida?

The FWC’s latest Boating Accident Statistical Report recorded 694 reportable accidents and 51 deaths statewide in 2025, according to news coverage of the report. Collisions with fixed objects were the most common type, and 67% of operators in fatal accidents had no formal boater education.

Can a passenger sue the driver of the boat they were on?

Yes. A passenger injured by a careless operator may have a claim against that operator, and sometimes against the owner, even if they are friends or family. Insurance, not the individual, often pays these claims.

What if the boat was a rental?

Florida liveries must carry liability insurance and provide safety instruction. A claim may involve the renter who was driving, the rental business, or both.

What if the at-fault boater has no insurance?

Florida does not require most recreational boat owners to carry liability insurance. A lawyer can look for other coverage, such as homeowner’s, umbrella, or business policies, or the injured person’s own coverage.

How much does a boat accident lawyer cost?

Jacobson Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront, and there is no attorney fee unless money is recovered.

Contact a Boat Accident Lawyer in Boca Raton, FL

An injured passenger or boater should be able to focus on recovery. A boat accident lawyer in Boca Raton, FL can investigate the crash, identify every source of coverage, and explain the options under Florida and maritime law. Call (561) 567-7163 or contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.