By Brett Hastings, Trial Attorney
Hastings Injury Law Firm Fights Back for Injured Boaters to Get Maximum Compensation.
After a boating accident, insurance companies move fast to protect their profits — not your future. Hastings Injury Law Firm aggressively fights for injured boaters and passengers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida and pursues the full compensation they deserve.
Speak with a lawyer the same day you call and meet with an attorney within one business day.
Insurance companies protect profits. Hastings Injury Law Firm protects injured victims.
Fight Back Against Insurance Company Tactics
There is no no-fault safety net on the water — after a boating accident, everything runs through the at-fault party's liability coverage, and the carrier begins building its defense immediately. Their goal is simple: pay you as little as possible. In Jacksonville and across Northeast Florida, the adjuster who sounds friendly on the phone works for the company — not for you.
Speak with a lawyer the same day you call and meet with an attorney within one business day.
Florida Boating Law, Plain English
Florida is the Boating Capital of the World — more than a million registered vessels, and more boating fatalities than any other state. When something goes wrong on the St. Johns River, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the Atlantic, the rules that protect you are different from a crash on I-95. Here's what that means for your claim.
Florida's no-fault (PIP) system covers motor vehicles designed for the highway — it does not follow you onto the water. After a boat or jet ski accident there is no automatic insurance safety net. Compensation comes from proving the at-fault operator's or owner's negligence and pursuing their liability coverage — which is exactly why the evidence work has to start on day one.
Under Florida law (F.S. 327.30), a vessel operator involved in an accident must stop, render aid, and exchange information. Accidents involving a death, a disappearance, an injury needing treatment beyond basic first aid, or significant property damage must be reported to the FWC, the sheriff, or local police by the quickest means available — and leaving the scene of a boating accident is itself a crime. The official accident report that comes out of that process often becomes the backbone of an injury claim. The water doesn't leave skid marks.
Boating under the influence (F.S. 327.35) is a crime — operating a vessel with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, or while impaired. Florida also requires operators born on or after January 1, 1988 to complete approved boating-safety education before running a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. The FWC counted 685 reportable boating accidents and 81 deaths statewide in 2024 — and 65 percent of the operators involved in fatal accidents had no formal boater training. Evidence of impairment or inexperience can be powerful support for a civil claim. And when the worst happens on the water, our wrongful death attorneys fight for the families left behind.
If you were hurt on a rented boat or personal watercraft, Florida law places specific duties on the rental business: it must carry liability insurance and give renters documented safety instruction — covering operation, local waterway hazards, and emergency procedures — before they launch. When a rental company cuts corners, it can share responsibility for what happens on the water. Depending on the facts, your claim may involve the operator, the owner, the rental company, or all of them.
Accidents on navigable waters — the St. Johns River, the Intracoastal, the Atlantic — can involve both Florida law and federal maritime rules, and the filing deadline can differ depending on which applies. For most Florida negligence claims, you generally have two years from the date of injury for accidents on or after March 24, 2023 (reduced from four years under HB837). Sorting out which rules govern your case is our job, not yours — and waiting is rarely in your favor. Boat and watercraft cases are part of the firm's full Jacksonville personal injury practice, and they get the same trial-ready preparation as everything else we take on.
Why Choose Hastings
When you're injured, you need more than a law firm that files paperwork. You need a legal team that knows how to push back against insurance companies and fight aggressively for every dollar you deserve.
We don't send demand letters and wait. From the accident report to witness statements, we build your boating case to win and put the insurance company on the defensive from day one.
Brett has 25+ years of Florida courtroom experience. Carriers settle higher when they know your lawyer will try the case.
We pursue the full value of your case — medical, wages, future care, and pain and suffering — not the fast, low check.
You talk to Brett's team — not a 1-800 phone bank or an out-of-state call center. This is not a case mill.
You will not be left wondering what's happening with your case. We keep you updated at every milestone.
Call and speak with a lawyer the same day. We're available 24/7 — because injuries don't wait for business hours.
Meet face-to-face with an attorney within one business day of your call. We move as fast as the insurance company does.
Contingency fee. No retainer, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Demand Maximum Compensation
A serious injury can impact every part of your life — physically, emotionally, and financially. Hastings Injury Law Firm aggressively pursues compensation for:
Insurance companies look for ways to minimize payouts. We fight to recover the full value of your case.
Protect Your Financial Future
When the insurance company dug in, we didn't back down. Representative results from cases we've fought for Northeast Florida injury victims:
A catastrophic injury and wrongful death case on I-95 with multiple responsible parties. When more than one defendant shares fault — as often happens on the water — we pursue every claim, not just the easy one.
The UM insurer refused to pay what our client's herniated disc injuries were worth, so we took the case to trial. The verdict: $2.1 Million.
Our client was wrongly blamed for the crash. Vehicle data proved the other driver was at fault — the same fight we take on when an operator points the finger at you.
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in another case. See more results →
Insurance Companies Have Lawyers. So Should You.
The 5.0★ rating from 250+ Google reviews across our Florida offices comes from people who were exactly where you are right now.
“5 years ago I walked in feeling doubtful of this case because I was going against the police. Brett made me feel extremely confident after our consultation. He was absolutely right about the outcome. Even if we lost, I would still be praising Brett and his hard working staff.”
Matthew M. Verified Google review
“I’m very pleased with Brett Hastings staff and his remarkable and outstanding service to my case, which made it possible to make the companies pay the client and he fights for you. The law offices of Brett Hastings is one of the best.”
Sher Wali K. Verified Google review
“A big thank you for all the wonderful work that this office has done on my behalf! Bryan was great, and I really appreciate all of the guidance and assistance he provided. Joy has been amazing since day one. She and everyone else at the Law Offices of Brett Hastings have been an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Allison W. Verified Google review
“There isn’t one negative thing I could say about this experience. Justice for Jax made sure we were aware of everything going on in our case, as well as understanding the processes. If ever I need an attorney for anything, Justice for Jax is who we will call first! It was an absolute pleasure working with Brett and Joy!”
Elias S. Verified Google review
“Brett did everything I expected and more. Would definitely recommend him to my friends. My outcome was better than expected. Joy also was a great help with all of my questions.”
Sandra V. Verified Google review
“They were a great firm, made sure I always knew what was going on and what needed to happen.”
Stephan H. Verified Google review
After the Crash
What you do in the first hours and days after a Jacksonville boating accident can make or break your claim. Save this — or better, call us and we'll walk you through it on the phone.
Adrenaline masks pain. Soft-tissue injuries, concussions, and internal bleeding can hide for hours or days. Go to the ER or urgent care the same day — "I walked away fine" is the first thing the insurance company uses to deny a claim.
Photograph the vessels, registration numbers, the damage, the water and weather conditions, and your injuries. Get names and numbers from witnesses and passengers before everyone leaves the water — they won't be there tomorrow. Make sure the accident gets reported and request a copy of the official accident report.
They will call within 48 hours, sound friendly, and record the call. Anything you say — even "I'm fine" — can be used to cut or deny your claim. Tell them your attorney will be in contact, then hang up.
Call 833-HIT-BACK. Speak with a lawyer the same day and meet with an attorney within one business day. Free consultation. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.
Waiting Can Hurt Your Injury Claim
Critical evidence can disappear quickly after an accident. Insurance companies begin investigating immediately — and Florida law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.
Insurance companies move fast after an accident. So do we.
Speak with a lawyer the same day and meet with an attorney within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Jacksonville & All of Northeast Florida
6816 Southpoint Pkwy Bldg 1000, Jacksonville, FL 32216 — minutes from I-95, I-295, and JTB
1661 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL — Beaches communities & Mayport
1980 N Atlantic Ave #230, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 — Brevard County & Space Coast
128 Orange Avenue Suite 206, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 — Volusia County
Serving Jacksonville, the Southside, Riverside, San Marco, Mandarin, Arlington, the Northside, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and all of Duval County — plus Orange Park, Fernandina Beach, Daytona Beach, and Cocoa Beach.
You Deserve a Law Firm Fighting for Your Future.
Hit Back with Hastings℠ today and let Hastings Injury Law Firm fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Speak With a Lawyer TODAY. Meet with an attorney within one business day.
You didn't ask for this injury. But you can choose how you respond. Choose a law firm that fights back. Choose Hastings Injury Law Firm.