Most Common Causes of Boating Injuries in Florida
Boating is extremely popular in Florida, especially during the fishing season. There is nothing more fun that going out on a hot day and enjoying a good time with friends and family. However, Florida is one of the top states with the highest amount of boating accidents that result in injury or even death. It’s important to understand what causes these injuries in an attempt to prevent them the next time you get on a boat.
Some of the most common causes of boating injuries involve driver negligence. If the driver is inexperienced, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just reckless, the results could be a boating accident. The driver might collide with another boat, person, or stationary object in the water. In some cases, the boat could even capsize and injury the entire party of people on the boat. Injuries can also result in passenger negligence. If a passenger is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he could fall off the boat and perhaps drown.
There are some causes of boating injuries that can be hard to account for such as equipment failure or poor weather conditions. However, it is extremely important to take preventative measures if possible. It could be as simple as checking the weather for the day that you plan on boating or coming up with a routine schedule of when to check the equipment on board. It’s also important to come up with a list of safety rules for the passengers to follow. Developing an onboard safety plan for your boat will ensure the safety of your passengers. Perhaps you may want to have a no running rule or only allow guests to have a few drinks. Whatever the rules may be, make sure that each guest on your boat understands and respects them.
It is scary to think that a fun day on the water could turn to injury or even death. If you think that you or a loved one experienced a boating injury due to negligence, you may want to involve an attorney to help you seek restitution. Franco Law Firm is here to help. If you have questions or want to schedule a free consultation, please call us at (813) 872-0929.