Miami Boat Accident Lawyer

Reviewed by Mike Redondo, Founding Attorney, Redondo Law, P.A. • Updated October 2026

Redondo Law helps people who were hurt on the water, and families who lost a loved one in a boating accident. If you were injured on a boat, jet ski, fishing charter or tour boat anywhere in Miami or the rest of Miami-Dade County, a Miami boat accident lawyer can deal with the boat owner, the rental company and their insurers while you focus on healing.

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. Our phones are answered 24/7, and our staff is fully bilingual (Se habla español). You can meet us at our office at 2828 Coral Way, by phone or by video. If you cannot travel, we come to you.

Why Miami has so many boating accidents

Miami lives on the water. Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic off Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, the Miami River and miles of canals are full of boats nearly every day of the year. Miami-Dade had more reportable boating accidents than any other Florida county in 2024, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) data as reported by local news.

Several things drive that risk:

• Sandbar party scenes. The Haulover sandbar and the Nixon sandbar off Key Biscayne draw crowds of anchored boats, swimmers and jet skis. Alcohol, loud music and boats moving through people in the water are a dangerous mix.
• Crowded weekends and holidays. Holiday weekends and big events pack the bay with boats of every size, often run by people with very different skill levels.
• Busy channels and the Miami River. Small boats share the water with cargo vessels, tugboats, cruise ships and water taxis. Large vessels cannot stop or turn quickly.
• Jet skis and rentals. Visitors and first-time riders can rent a jet ski or boat with little or no experience.
• Marinas and ramps. Crowded docks, fuel stations and launch ramps lead to collisions, falls and fueling accidents.
• Sudden weather. Afternoon rainstorms are common in South Florida for much of the year, and they can turn calm water rough in minutes.

Types of boating accidents we handle

Every boating accident is different. These are the kinds of cases our Miami boat accident attorney sees most often.

Boat collisions

Boats collide with other boats, jet skis, docks, channel markers and swimmers. Common causes include speeding, not keeping a proper lookout, ignoring no-wake and manatee zones, running at night without proper lights and not following the rules of the road on the water.

Boating under the influence (BUI)

In Florida, it is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, the same limit as for driving a car. Drinking is a big part of the sandbar scene, and a drunk operator can face criminal charges as well as a civil claim. A criminal case and your injury claim are separate, and you do not have to wait for one to start the other.

Boat propeller injuries

A spinning propeller can cause deep cuts, amputations and fatal injuries in seconds. These accidents often happen when a swimmer is near a boat with the engine running, when someone falls overboard, or when an operator backs up near people in the water. Questions about propeller guards, kill switches and warnings may also come up. Learn more about catastrophic injuries.

Wakes, sudden turns and passengers thrown

Passengers can be thrown against the deck, the console or into the water when an operator hits a wake at speed, turns sharply or slams into waves. These accidents can cause head, neck and back injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Falls overboard and drownings

A person who falls overboard may be struck by the boat, hit by the propeller or unable to stay afloat. Missing life jackets, no one watching the water, and an impaired or careless operator can all turn a fall into a drowning.

Jet ski, PWC and rental crashes

Jet skis and other personal watercraft (PWCs) are fast, hard to steer without throttle and easy to rent. Crashes often involve inexperienced riders, riders who were never shown how to operate the craft, and rental fleets that are poorly maintained. A rental company may share the blame with the rider.

Fuel fires, explosions and carbon monoxide

Gas fumes can build up in an enclosed space and ignite. Poor fueling practices, bad ventilation and faulty equipment can cause fires and explosions at the dock or on the water. Engine and generator exhaust can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning, especially near the back of the boat or in a closed cabin.

Fishing charter and tour boat injuries

Passengers on fishing charters, party boats, sightseeing tours and water taxis trust the crew to keep them safe. Injuries happen from slippery decks, unsafe boarding, hooks and gear, rough-water operation and too many people on board. If you were hurt while working on a commercial fishing boat, your rights may be different, as explained below.

Water-skiing, wakeboarding and tubing accidents

Towed riders depend on the operator and the spotter. Accidents happen when the boat turns too sharply, goes too fast, tows too close to other boats or docks, or picks up a fallen rider carelessly.

Who can be liable for a boat accident in Miami

Who is responsible depends on the facts, the contracts and the evidence. Often more than one person or company shares the blame. Parties we look at include:

• The operator, for speeding, drinking, careless operation or not keeping a lookout.
• The boat owner, who may be responsible for letting an unsafe or unqualified person run the boat, or for poor maintenance.
• The rental company, for renting to someone unfit to operate, poor safety instruction or bad equipment.
• The charter or tour company, for the conduct of its captain and crew and for overcrowding or unsafe conditions.
• A marina, for unsafe docks, fuel stations, ramps or lighting.
• A manufacturer, if a defective hull, engine, steering system, fuel system or life jacket caused or worsened the injury. See our product liability page.

Florida and federal law for boat accident claims

Boating cases can involve both Florida law and federal maritime law. Here is the general picture. Which rules apply to your case depends on where and how it happened.

Florida boating rules

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must have a boating safety ID card to operate a vessel with 10 or more horsepower. The boating under the influence limit is 0.08. Serious boating accidents must be reported to FWC or local law enforcement. Breaking these rules can be strong evidence of fault.

Federal maritime (admiralty) law

Federal maritime law, also called admiralty law, can apply to accidents on navigable waters, such as Biscayne Bay and the ocean. When it does, it can change the rules and the deadlines. For example, many maritime injury claims have a 3-year federal time limit instead of Florida’s 2 years. But the rules vary with the facts, and some deadlines are much shorter, so call early.

The Limitation of Liability Act

Under an old federal law, a boat owner sometimes tries to limit what it owes to the value of the boat after the accident. If the boat is badly damaged, that number can be small. These cases are filed in federal court and move on tight deadlines. Owners do not always win these requests, but you need to respond quickly if one is filed.

Crew members and commercial fishing workers

If you were hurt while working as a crew member on a commercial fishing boat or another vessel, you may have different rights than a passenger, under federal maritime law. These claims follow their own rules. Talk to us as soon as you can so we can look at your situation.

Cruise ship injuries

Many cruises sail from PortMiami. Cruise ship injury claims follow federal maritime law and the terms printed in your cruise ticket. Those tickets often require written notice of a claim and a lawsuit filed within short deadlines, and often say where you must sue. If you were hurt on a cruise, see our Miami cruise ship injury lawyer page and call us right away.

Drowning and wrongful death on the water

A drowning or fatal boat crash leaves a family with questions and no time to deal with insurers. A wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of the estate and the survivors, such as a spouse, children or parents. It may be based on a careless operator, a crew that did not watch the water, missing life jackets or a defective product. If maritime law applies, different rules may govern the claim. Learn more on our Miami wrongful death lawyer page.

Evidence in a boating accident case

Boating accidents are harder to investigate than car crashes. There are no skid marks on the water, and the boat may be repaired or sold quickly. Evidence that can matter includes:

• The FWC or law enforcement report, along with any BUI test results.
• Photos and video from phones, GoPros, marina cameras and social media posts from people nearby.
• GPS and electronics data from chartplotters, engine systems and phones, which can show speed and location.
• Witnesses, including other boaters, passengers, crew and marina staff.
• Rental agreements, waivers and charter contracts, plus training and maintenance records.
• The boat itself, which should be inspected before it is repaired.

Many rental and tour companies make you sign a waiver. A waiver does not always end a claim. Whether it applies depends on its wording, what happened and which law governs. Do not assume you have no case because you signed something.

What to do after a boating accident in Miami

Serving boaters across Miami-Dade

We help people hurt on the water anywhere in Miami-Dade County, from the sandbars and the bay to the river and the canals.

Boating accidents in North Miami and North Miami Beach

Boaters from North Miami and North Miami Beach often head out through Haulover Inlet to the Haulover sandbar and the ocean. Crowded inlets and sandbar traffic lead to collisions, wake injuries and propeller accidents. We also serve Miami Beach residents and visitors.

Boat accident lawyer for Coral Gables and Key Biscayne

Many Coral Gables residents keep boats on canals or at nearby marinas and ramps with easy access to Biscayne Bay. Key Biscayne boaters are close to the Nixon sandbar and the open ocean. Both areas see heavy traffic on weekends and holidays.

Boat accident attorney for Hialeah and Homestead

Hialeah families often trailer their boats to ramps around the county. Homestead boaters use the marinas and ramps of south Miami-Dade, near southern Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. Wherever you launch, you can meet us at our Coral Way office, by phone or by video. See our Hialeah injury page.

Why choose Redondo Law as your Miami boat accident lawyer

Mike Redondo and his team give every case personal attention. Before founding Redondo Law in 2019, he spent six years at Holland & Knight defending major corporations in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He knows how corporate defendants, such as rental fleets, charter companies and manufacturers, and their lawyers build a defense. Read more about Mike Redondo.

Our staff is fully bilingual, so you can talk about your case in English or Spanish. Phones are answered 24/7, which matters when a boat may be repaired or a short deadline is running. You can see our case results and learn about our other personal injury work.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a boating accident claim in Florida?

For most Florida negligence claims from accidents on or after March 24, 2023, you have 2 years. Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years of the death. If federal maritime law applies, many injury claims have a 3-year limit, but cruise tickets and other contracts can set much shorter deadlines. Because it is not always clear which rule applies, call early.

Who is liable if I am hurt as a passenger on someone else’s boat?

Usually the operator, and sometimes the owner if they let an unsafe person run the boat or failed to maintain it. If the boat was rented or chartered, the rental or charter company may also be responsible. The owner’s boat insurance may cover the claim. We look at every party and every policy that may apply.

Can I sue a jet ski rental company in Miami?

Often, yes. A rental company may be liable for renting to someone unfit to ride, giving poor safety instruction, or renting out a craft with bad steering, throttle or kill switch problems. The rider who hit you may also be liable. The rental agreement, the waiver and the company’s maintenance records are key evidence.

Does a waiver stop me from filing a claim?

Not always. Whether a waiver applies depends on its exact wording, what caused your injury and whether Florida or federal maritime law governs the case. Some waivers are written too broadly or do not cover what happened. Keep a copy of anything you signed and let us review it before you decide you have no claim.

What if the boat operator was drunk?

Operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is illegal in Florida. The operator may face criminal charges, but your injury claim is separate. In Florida, an impaired at-fault party can face punitive damages in some cases. Make sure the accident is reported so law enforcement can test the operator.

Do I need a boat accident attorney near me?

You need an attorney who knows Miami-Dade waters, the agencies that investigate boating accidents and how maritime law can change a case. Our office is at 2828 Coral Way in Miami, and we serve clients from Homestead to North Miami. You can meet in person, by phone or by video. Our bilingual staff answers the phone 24/7.

If you or a loved one was hurt on a boat, jet ski or charter anywhere in Miami-Dade, call (305) 908-6778 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Miami boat accident attorney.

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