Helping Victims of Boating Accidents Throughout South Florida
If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating accident in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, or anywhere in the State of Florida, you need an experienced boating accident lawyer in North Miami Beach. Boating injuries can be severe and it may not always be clear who is at fault for the accident. An experienced Miami boating attorney will be able to investigate your accident closely to establish who is to blame.
Florida is called the Sunshine State for good reason: it is home to nearly 1,200 miles of pristine coastline and over 600 miles of beautiful sandy beaches. In addition, the state of Florida boasts more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams, and waterways and more than 7,700 lakes. This makes Florida a virtual boater’s paradise–365 days of the year. With our mild climate and sunny weather, nearly 900,000 registered boaters call Florida their home.
Boaters come from nearly every socio-economic background and span generations. From water skiing teenagers to elderly fishermen, boating offers a little something for everyone. Yet boating is not inherently without risk, and every year more than 4,500 boating accidents occur, causing thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths.
In 2012 alone, the Coast Guard reported 4515 accidents, involving 651 deaths, 3000 injuries, and $38 million dollars of damage to property. Nearly 71% of those fatalities were drowning accidents, and the large majority (85%) of those victims were not wearing a life jacket.
Types of Boating Accidents
At the Dante Law Firm, P.A., our Miami boating accident attorneys have helped numerous boaters and their families who have been injured in boating accidents, including:
Capsizing boating accidents
Falling overboard
Boating fires or explosions
Water-skiing accidents
Boating collisions
Striking a submerged object
Electrocution
Drowning accidents
Boating accident with a drunk operator
Boaters injured by propeller, propulsion unit, or steering machinery
There are numerous reasons a boating accident can occur, from running aground to hitting another vessel and capsizing. Boating accident injuries also range from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious and life-threatening drowning or head injuries. Some of the more common causes of boating accidents include:
Drinking alcohol while operating a boat — Alcohol is the leading cause of fatal boating accidents.
Operator inattention — This includes texting while driving the boat, using a cellphone, and talking to other passengers.
Operator inexperience — new boat operators who have not completed a safety course may not know how to handle emergency situations and poor weather conditions. In fact, operator inexperience is the 2nd leading cause of boating accidents.
Machinery failure or defective product — a motor that has not been maintained correctly or a defective boating part can contribute to serious boating accidents.
Using excessive speed — speeding through the water might seem like fun, but using excessive speed while operating a boat is dangerous. Boaters may not notice hazards in the water while going that fast. As such, they may hit a rock, run aground, or injure a swimmer.
Hazardous weather conditions — sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with our boating plans. Severe thunderstorms, lightening, and tropical storms can all cause deadly boating accidents.
Boating Injuries Can be Severe
Boating injuries can range from minor broken bones to more serious drowning injuries. Some of the most common boating injuries include:
(305) 949-2526
(305) 949-2526
(305) 949-2526