Navigating A Course To Justice

Parents of 15-Year-Old Who Died in Boating Accident File Lawsuit

On Behalf of | Oct 16, 2023 | Firm News

The parents of a 15-year-old who died in a boat accident have filed a lawsuit against several parties including the driver of the boat. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene when the boat he was on was struck by another boat. The parents of the decedent allege that the operator of the boat was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The driver of the boat was also underage at the time of the accident. They have filed suit against several gas stations alleging that they served a minor alcohol.

In Florida, lawsuits filed against bars and stores for selling alcohol to minors are difficult to win. However, they can be won if the bartender or store operator knew that the individual was underage at the time they purchased the alcohol. In this case, the parents are alleging that the defendant was well-known in the area and used his political connections to purchase alcohol while underage. They have filed a lawsuit against both the boat operator, the other boater, and five convenience stores or gas stations that allegedly served alcohol to a minor.

Wrongful death lawsuits and boating accidents

In order to file a boat accident lawsuit against another boater, you must be able to establish negligence. In this case, it’s unclear how the boat accident happened. Two boats collided with one another and the parents are suing both boat operators. To make matters interesting, the coroner is the grandfather of one of the boat operators. The family of the deceased believes that the coroner inserted himself into the investigation in order to protect his grandson from the charges that could be filed against him. The coroner claims that his grandson attempted to avoid the other boat, but couldn’t move away quickly enough. It could be that the other boater was more responsible for the accident than the grandson. However, it looks bad when you have a relative attempting to shift the blame elsewhere.

Boating accidents occur routinely, and when they do, someone is usually responsible for the accident. Cases of speeding or divided attention result in numerous boating accidents each year. In cases of wrongful death, drowning is the most likely cause.

In the case mentioned above, the parents of the decedent allege that the boat their son was on was being operated by someone under the influence of alcohol. They will need to establish, however, that the boat operator was negligent in the operation of the boat. If the coroner is correct, and his grandson attempted to avoid the accident, then it may be that the other boater is responsible for his death.

Talk to a Miami, FL Boat Accident Lawyer Today

Miami admiralty & maritime lawyer Michael F. Guilford represents the rights of boat accident victims who have sustained a severe injury in a boating accident. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation and we can begin discussing your claims immediately.