After Your Florida Boat Accident: Getting Your “Land Legs” Back

Maybe your Florida boat accident involved a catastrophic collision with a DUI skipper 80 miles South of Miami; the crash may have destroyed your boat and incapacitated you physically. Or maybe you ground your boat into a reef or a dock and destroyed your only watercraft. In either case, prepare yourself for a period of disorientation. Just as people who spend a lot of time on land get disoriented once they get out on the water - until they get their "sea legs" - so, too, do hardcore mariners go through disorientation until they get their "land legs" back.
You probably have had some experience with this "land legs" issue already.
If, for instance, you worked aboard an industrial vessel or went on a long fishing expedition, you probably had strange feelings once you returned to land. Maybe they were physical (nausea, confusion, or torpor, for example). Or, perhaps they were emotional - a sense of feeling uneasily "static."
In any event, if you were hurt or lost your boat, you will be likely spending far more time over the next few weeks on land than you typically do. So prepare yourself psychologically for the coming disorientation to manage it more resourcefully.
When things like "land legs syndrome" blindside us, we tend to react with frustration, annoyance, and stress. In an upcoming blog post and FAQ article, we will address possible tactical and strategic solutions to this "land legs problem" and also give you ways of thinking to make the readjustment back to water (after you have been on land for a while) easier, simpler, less stressful, and more comfortable for you physically.
For now, simply recognize that returning to life as a "landlubber" may be surprisingly challenging, even if you're recovering in a safe environment with your family.
Yes, some of your discomfort might be due to the injury or accident itself - and all of its physical, emotional, and psychological consequences. But some of your discomfort will stem from a change of environment and venue. Also, it's important to differentiate between your "land legs syndrome" symptoms and the symptoms of your injury/illness.
For help dealing with a consequential water boat accident, turn to the experienced Jones Act attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom by calling (877) 724-7800 or by visiting us online at www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com.