Coral Gables sits at the edge of one of the busiest recreational boating corridors in the country. The Farber Law Firm represents people seriously injured in Biscayne Bay collisions, charter and yacht incidents, jet ski crashes, and propeller injuries — and their families in fatal cases. We handle both Florida negligence claims and matters that fall under federal maritime law.
Miami-Dade consistently reports among the highest boating accident totals in Florida in FWC's annual Boating Accident Statistical Report. The waters off Coral Gables, Cocoplum, and Gables Estates funnel recreational traffic through Biscayne Bay toward Dinner Key, Key Biscayne, and the Safety Valve, where weekend congestion, wake conflicts, and inexperienced rental operators drive collision risk.
Local canal and waterfront living adds a second layer of claims: dock and lift injuries, tender and dinghy incidents, and collisions in narrow no-wake zones where operators regularly exceed posted limits. Florida requires a Boating Safety Education ID Card for many operators under Fla. Stat. § 327.395, and violations of that requirement often surface in the FWC investigation.
Charter, fishing, and party boat operations working out of the Coconut Grove and Dinner Key area introduce commercial insurance, vessel-owner liability, and sometimes federal maritime issues including limitation of liability petitions. Those filings carry short response windows, so early representation matters.
Call 8888-FARBER. We review the FWC or Coast Guard report, your injuries, and the vessel's insurance at no cost.
We send spoliation letters for the vessel, GPS and chartplotter data, maintenance logs, rental paperwork, and any onboard video before it disappears.
State negligence or federal maritime law changes deadlines, damages, and venue. We settle that question early.
Once your treatment stabilizes, we present a documented demand covering medical care, lost income, and future needs.
We file in Miami-Dade Circuit Court or federal court and try cases. Carriers price cases based on that willingness.
We represent clients in every neighborhood, including:
Most Florida negligence claims arising on or after March 24, 2023 carry a two-year statute of limitations under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), and wrongful death claims are governed by § 95.11(4)(d). If the vessel was in navigable waters, federal maritime law may apply instead and can impose different deadlines, including a three-year limit for general maritime negligence and much shorter contractual notice periods on commercial charter or cruise tickets.
It depends on where the incident happened and the type of vessel. Recreational collisions in Florida waters are usually handled under state negligence law, while incidents involving commercial vessels or occurring in navigable waters can trigger general maritime law. We analyze both because the choice affects damages, deadlines, and where suit is filed.
Under Fla. Stat. § 327.30, an operator must render aid, exchange information, and report accidents involving death, disappearance, injury requiring more than immediate first aid, or property damage at or above the statutory threshold, to FWC, the sheriff, or local police. Leaving the scene can be a criminal offense and is strong evidence of liability in the civil case.
Rental liveries have duties under Fla. Stat. § 327.54, including instruction requirements and operator age and license rules. When a livery rents to an unqualified operator, skips required safety instruction, or hands over a poorly maintained vessel, the rental company itself can be liable alongside the operator.
Yes, up to a point. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81 as amended by HB 837 in 2023, a claimant found more than 50 percent at fault recovers nothing, and any recovery at or below that threshold is reduced by the claimant's share of fault. Pure comparative fault may still apply to claims governed by federal maritime law.
Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we recover (most personal injury and insurance matters).
Call 8888-FARBER