Fort Lauderdale Recreational Vehicle Injury

The Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys at Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. can help you recover compensation for any damages you may be entitled to after a recreational vehicle accident. Fort Lauderdale is a major city in South Florida with a population of approximately 168,528. It contains a complex canal system, and the boating industry is responsible for over 109,000 jobs in Broward County, where the city is located. With seven miles of beaches and a tropical climate, Fort Lauderdale is a popular tourist destination, as well as a hot spot for recreational vehicle activity.

Florida Recreational Vehicle Injury Statistics

All recreational vehicle use can be dangerous, and the rates of injury associated with their use in Florida have been alarming in recent years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida reported the highest number of pedalcyclist fatalities in the country in 2009. Accidents in the water are common as well. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 742 reportable boat accidents, including 67 fatalities, in Florida in 2011.

Bicycle & Motorcycle Accidents

Bicycles and motorcycles are two land-based vehicles commonly used for recreational purposes in Florida. Most accidents involving motorcycles could have been avoided by the driver of a car or truck using due care as required by law, but are very difficult to avoid on the part of the motorcyclist. Those riding bicycles or motorcycles are particularly vulnerable in an accident, with only a helmet to shield them in most cases. Negligent drivers, or those who do not use reasonable care when operating their vehicles, may be liable to any bicyclists or motorcyclists they injure through their careless conduct. Liability means that drivers found to have been negligent are responsible for paying all damages resulting from an accident, including the victim’s medical expenses, permanent disability, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Boating Accidents

While boating is generally considered safe, boating accidents do occur, especially in areas like Fort Lauderdale, with its high concentration of boating activities, which can include sailing, jet-skiing, and yachting. Many accidents involving boats are caused by negligent practices such as boating while intoxicated or driving a boat at reckless speeds. Often the drivers of boats are boating for fun or are on vacation, and do not have sufficient experience to know what kinds of activities are safe. Florida personal injury law protects victims of boating accidents when the other party is shown to have been negligent or reckless, and holds them responsible for damages.

Products Liability

Accidents can also occur as a result of a defect in a car or other vehicle rather than because of driver negligence. In Florida products liability cases, anyone in the manufacturing chain, from the maker of a part to the seller, can be sued if a product is sold to a consumer with an unreasonably dangerous defect. This means someone can be sued for a manufacturing defect, a design defect, or a failure to include adequate warnings. Products that may be defective on a recreational vehicle include engines, batteries, fuel tanks, generators, propellers, and safety equipment, among other things.

Liability for physical harm to the user will be found if the seller is engaged in the business of selling a dangerous product and expects the product will be used without a substantial change in its condition. Products liability cases are complex, usually entailing multiple expert witnesses, and certainly the involvement of an experienced products liability attorney.

Get In Touch

Hire a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney

The Florida personal injury attorneys at Goldman & Daszkal, P.A. are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured by a negligent auto driver, truck driver, or boater. We pursue cases diligently to determine all potential sources of liability, and fight for the compensation you need in order to recover and be made whole. Call us at 954-998-0296 or contact us through our online form.