Boat Company Loses Trial, Appeal, After 7-Year-Old is Killed in Swamping Accident

The parents of a 7-year-old boy who was killed in a boating accident won a $200 million verdict against the company that manufactured the boat. A judge slammed the boating company saying that the company knew about a swamping danger that caused the boat to take on water.

According to the lawsuit, the front of the boat took on water and swept the child off the boat where he was eventually sucked under and made contact with the propeller. He was killed instantly. The family alleged that the company knew about the risk of swamping, and a jury awarded the family $200 million in damages. The boating company filed an appeal, but a judge refused to grant one. He slammed the boating company stating that there was ample evidence of a defect in the design of the boat that made it prone to swamping. The judge believed that the jury made the right decision and affirmed the $200 million verdict against the boat manufacturer.

Boating accident injuries in Tampa, FL 

Boating accident injuries can occur for any number of reasons. In the case mentioned above, the boaters were using the boat in a manner that could be readily anticipated by the boating company. Their 7-year-old child was aboard the boat when the boat began taking on water. According to the family, the entire seat that the child was sitting on was under water when he was swept off the boat. The parents claimed that the boating company knew about the danger of swamping prior to the accident occurring. While the $200 million verdict won’t bring their son back to them, it will force changes within the boating industry to ensure that an incident like this never happens again.

The boating company, in this case, was sued for punitive damages related to their foreknowledge that the design of the boat was essentially unsafe to those on the boat. In these cases, punitive damages are awarded to punish the company for wrongdoing. In this case, the company was punished for failing to recall the boats before someone was killed by them.

Lawsuits against boat manufacturers

 You can sue a boat manufacturer for the negligent design or manufacture of a boat the same way you can sue a car company for the negligent design or manufacture of a car. In these cases, allegations are made against the boating company for the negligent design or manufacture of the boat. In cases where the company had foreknowledge of the problem and failed to issue a recall, the company can be sued for punitive damages as was the case in this trial.

Talk to a Tampa, FL Boat Accident Injury Attorney Today 

The Tampa boat accident injury attorneys at The Matassini Law Firm represent the interests of injured boaters in boat accident cases. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation, and learn more about how we can help you recover damages related to your lost wages, medical expenses, and reduced quality of life.

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