Can an injured passenger recover damages if a boat captain recklessly crossed a large wake or struck a sandbar?

Yes. Vessel captains owe passengers a duty of reasonable care to navigate safely and monitor marine conditions. Under Fla. Stat. § 327.32, operating a vessel in reckless disregard for the safety of people or property is unlawful. Navigating excessive wakes at unreasonable speeds, failing to watch navigational markers, or grounding a boat on a charted sandbar constitutes actionable negligence when passengers suffer trauma like spinal injuries or fractures. Passengers can seek recovery for medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, and emotional distress. Jeffrey S. Altman at The Altman Law Firm assists injured passengers in holding careless boat operators accountable for avoidable aquatic collisions.