On February 11, 2024, a Thriller Miami speedboat tour vessel operating near Bayside Marketplace in Miami-Dade County collided with a charter boat in one of the most widely covered boating accidents in recent South Florida history. Twenty-nine people were injured. Thirteen were transported to the hospital by ambulance. At least one was airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center.
Mausner Group filed the first lawsuit over the collision, as reported by the Daily Business Review. One of our clients recorded the crash from on board, and that video went viral and ran across major news outlets. We represented several of the claimants in the case and recovered for every client we represented.
The injuries our clients sustained were severe. Among those we represented, the collision caused a sacral fracture, rib fractures, multiple cervical and lumbar disc herniations, a broken clavicle, a pelvic fracture, shoulder tears requiring potential surgery, complex knee tears including meniscus and ligament damage, and foot injuries.
Liability was clear. Thriller Miami failed to maintain a proper lookout, failed to keep a safe distance, failed to avoid a collision, and was operating at reckless speed in waters near one of Miami-Dade County’s busiest waterfront destinations. The on-board video left no room for dispute. The case resolved at global mediation. The settlement amount is confidential.
Media coverage of this case
The collision and the litigation drew national attention. Coverage appeared in the Daily Business Review, Miami Herald, NBC 6 South Florida, WSVN 7 News, Local 10, Fox News, CNN, People, USA Today, and the New York Post, among other outlets, and the on-board video captured by Mausner Group's client was featured in reporting worldwide.
We moved first. Mausner Group filed the first lawsuit in this case, which the Daily Business Review reported. Early filing meant early preservation of evidence -- including the critical on-board video footage captured by one of our clients at the moment of impact.
We handled a complex case with many claimants and several firms involved. Our clients had different injuries, so we built a separate damages case for each one while taking part in the global settlement.
We established maritime negligence on solid ground. The speedboat vessel violated clear maritime duties -- maintaining a proper lookout, operating at a safe speed, and avoiding collisions. The on-board video made those violations impossible to deny.
