Clearwater, FL — A devastating boat crash in Clearwater on Sunday, April 27, left one man dead and ten others injured after a speeding recreational vessel collided with a ferry transporting approximately 45 passengers near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge. The personal injury attorneys at Demand the Limits are monitoring this tragic incident closely as victims and their families may be entitled to legal recourse.
According to Clearwater Police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the ferry was returning from the Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach when it was violently rear-ended around 8:40 p.m. by a 37-foot speedboat. Authorities described the event as a “mass casualty incident,” with six victims transported to local hospitals under trauma alerts.
The driver of the recreational boat was located hours later—approximately four miles from the crash site near the Belleair Causeway—alongside several passengers still aboard. Although he initially fled the scene, officials say he later cooperated and submitted to a breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol in his system. No arrests have been made at this time.
Tragically, 41-year-old Jose Castro of Palm Harbor was killed in the crash. Video footage released by Clearwater Police shows the speedboat striking the rear of the ferry with such force that it overrode nearly three-quarters of the vessel.
Legal Support for Boating Accident Victims in Clearwater, St. Pete, and Largo
Incidents like this highlight the serious consequences of boating negligence. Victims of boat crashes in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Palm Harbor or surrounding Florida communities may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys, our experienced Clearwater-area injury lawyers are ready to help victims and families understand their legal options. We aggressively pursue justice for those harmed due to negligence on the water or the road.
If you or someone you love was injured in a Clearwater boat accident, call 561-600-3555 for a free consultation. There are no fees unless we win your case.
Not surprisingly, one of the questions we get most frequently is “what should I do if I am in a boating accident?” The problem is that we often do not get that question until after-the-fact, when many people have not followed the suggested steps for a boating accident. Our suggestions are actually different for a boating accident than they are for other types of vehicle accidents. How severe was the accident? Did you bump another boat while docking or leaving the dock, resulting in minimal damage to either vehicle? If so, then you can be involved with a limited discussion with the other boat driver, exchanging insurance or other contact information, without discussing what led to the accident.
Some law firms will tell you that you need an attorney for every single accident of any type. At Demand the Limits, we do not believe that this is the case. Some accidents are incredibly straight forward, involve property damage but no injuries, and can be handled quickly and efficiently by insurance companies. Other accidents, however, especially when who is at fault is in question, may require the services of an attorney.
Instead of telling everyone that they definitely need an attorney after a boating accident, what we do is encourage people to come in and see one of our Clearwater boating accident attorneys for a free consultation. At that consultation, the attorney will go over the accident with you. After that discussion, the attorney will offer professional advice on whether an attorney could help you and, if so, what he or she thinks that an attorney can do to help. Our best piece of advice is to have this consultation before speaking to any insurance companies or to any law enforcement agencies, if at all possible. Then, the attorney can make sure you are aware of your rights, and, in cases where fault is at issue, advice you how to truthfully proceed with those agencies without accidentally admitting fault.
If you or someone you love was injured in a Clearwater boat accident, call 561-600-3555 for a free consultation. There are no fees unless we win your case.
