Large inner tubes, banana boats, and rafts pulled behind speed boats are often fun activities to enjoy while on vacation. In a city like Miami, surrounded by water, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy one of these activities. However, a fun day on the water can take a turn a dark turn if someone is injured on a towable tube.
When you receive injuries because of someone else’ careless or negligent acts, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or a member of your family was injured in a tubing accident, talk to an attorney today. Miami tubing accident lawyer Prosper Shaked offers free consultations on injury cases. To schedule your free consultation, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today at (305) 694-2676.
Injuries from Tubing Accidents in Florida
While riding on a tube towed behind a boat, there are many ways to face serious injuries. First, any time you fall into the water, there is a risk of drowning. Untrained or younger swimmers may have trouble staying on a raft or tube, and they may into the water at high speeds. If the boat operator is not quick enough to swing around and get them, they may drown if they are not properly equipped with life vests or swimming skills.
The boat pilot towing a raft does not always avoid dangers in the water. Driving a boat over a piece of driftwood or other debris may not cause damage to the boat or injury to the occupants. However, if a tube drawn behind a boat strikes debris, the results may be very different. If a sharp object punctures the lining of an inner tube, the sudden force of the popping tube could scare or injure riders. It may also drop them suddenly into the water. The impact can cause injuries or lead to drowning if the rider was unprepared.
One of the largest risks from falling off or being thrown from a tube is the risk of being hit by a boat. Swimming in boat lanes is decidedly dangerous – more so if you were put there by accident. Falling from a tube into the path of a boat can mean serious injuries. These risks come from both the boat towing your tube as well as other boats and jet skis in the area. If you are struck by a boat, it can cause you serious injuries. Hitting your head against the hull of a boat can mean head trauma that could force you into the water and increase your risk of drowning. If you are caught in the propellers, you could face serious amputation injuries, deep lacerations, or even death.
The boat’s pilot has a duty to the riders and passengers on the boat to use the proper care that a reasonable boat pilot would use in the given situation. If they try to show off or drive too outrageously, they are putting their riders at risk. Any injuries they cause by driving carelessly could be their responsibility.
Proving a Tubing Accident Case in Miami
Filing a personal injury lawsuit requires proving four elements. In a case like a tubing accident, there are multiple potential parties you could hold liable for your injuries. Regardless, these four elements must be proven in court:
- The defendant owed you a duty;
- The defendant breached that duty;
- The breach caused your injuries; and
- You suffered injuries the court can compensate you for.
No one can be held liable for your injuries unless they owed you a duty in the first place. For example, the boat rental company may owe you particular duties based on your contract with them, the pilot of your boat may owe you a duty to drive carefully, and other boat pilots in the waters may owe you a duty to avoid accidents through prudent boating.
If a party fails to use the proper care and discipline, they could be considered to have breached their duty. That breach must also have been a cause of the injuries you face. If you would have been injured regardless of what the other person did, your injury suit may fail. Damages include not only your physical pain, but other financial effects of the injury, such as medical bills and lost paychecks from work you miss while recovering.
Always talk to a personal injury attorney after serious injuries. In many cases, payments you may receive through insurance companies are not enough to cover your needs.
Miami Tube and Raft Injury Lawyer Offering Free Consultations
If you or a loved one was injured on a towed tube, contact a personal injury lawyer about your options. You may be able to file a lawsuit to compensate you for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering resulting from your injuries. For a free consultation on your case, contact Miami tubing accident lawyer Prosper Shaked at Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA. Our number is (305) 694-2676.