The results were not good, though it should be noted that 2014 saw an exceptional decrease in the number of boating accidents. Still, our injury lawyers had hoped it would be the start of a trend. Apparently, it was not.
According to FWC’s preliminary figures:
- 2011 – 742 boating accidents
- 2012 – 704 boating accidents
- 2013 – 736 boating accidents
- 2014 – 634 boating accidents
- 2015 – 737 boating accidents
That means in a single year, Florida boating accident deaths rose by more than 16 percent. And nowhere was more dangerous than the waters off Miami-Dade.
According to the data, Miami ranked No. 1 for boating accidents in the state. We have 65,322 total vessels in this count – with nearly 63,000 of those being for recreational purposes – and there were 96 boating accidents last year. Those resulted in three deaths and 74 injuries. They also caused more than $3 million in property damage. While the statewide boating accident ratio is one accident for every 1,242 vessels, the rate in Miami-Dade is one accident for every 680 registered vessels.
Other counties across the state with high boating accident rates were:
- Monroe – 78 accidents
- Broward – 57 accidents
- Lee – 48 accidents
- Pinellas – 41 accidents
The two most dangerous months of the year for boaters were: May and July. June wasn’t too far behind. Two of the biggest boating holidays: Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, fall within those months.
These accidents primarily involved collisions with other vessels or fixed objects. Flooding/ swamping was also an issue, as were falls overboard and grounding. More than half of all boating accidents occurred while the vessel was in cruising mode.
In nearly 80 percent of the cases, the boat was privately owned. In 13 percent of cases, the FWC reported the boats were rented.
As one FWC official pointed out, “So many of these accidents could have been avoided if operators were simply paying attention.”
Indeed, 178 boating accidents were caused by no proper look-out/ inattention. Other factors cited included:
- Operator inexperience – 107 crashes
- Machinery failure – 77 crashes
- Excessive speed – 58 crashes
- Careless/ reckless – 54 crashes
- Weather – 39 crashes
- hazardous waters – 30 crashes
- Alcohol use – 28 crashes (drug use was cited in 3)
- Sharp turn – 16 crashes
Specific to Miami crashes, the top causes were:
- No proper lookout
- Careless/ reckless
- Operator inexperience
- Machinery failure
- Excessive Speed
- Weather
- Improper anchoring
- Violation of navigation rules
When it came to boating injuries, lacerations and contusions were by far the most common. Broken bones, head injuries, back injuries and burns were also cited in a significant number of cases. There were a total of 438 injuries reported in all of the 737 boating accidents.
Overall, the FWC and other law enforcement agencies doled out significantly more citations for uniform boating violations – 12,275 in 2015 versus 10,899 in 2014 – a 13 percent increase.
Given that machinery failure is an apparently growing problem (it wasn’t as prevalent in years’ past with regard to boating accidents), it’s worth noting that the U.S. Coast Guard conducts complementary vessel safety checks.
The FWC further encourages boaters to take a boater safety course, wear their life jackets (especially children) and make sure the operator stays sober and alert.
If you have been a victim of a traffic accident, call Chalik & Chalik at (954) 476-1000 or 1 (800) 873-9040.
Additional Resources:
2015 Boating Accidents Statistical Report, May 2016, FWC
More Blog Entries:
Car Accident Lawsuit Names Snapchat as Defendant, May 3, 2016, Miami Boating Accident Lawyer Blog
The post Florida Boating Accidents Up, FWC Urges Caution This Summer first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>A boat operator with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10 percent is 10 times more likely to have a boating accident than a sober boater. That is a statistic to make people think twice about drinking and boating.
If the boater is inexperienced, speeding, not mentally sharp and clear-headed and his or her inhibitions are relaxed due to the alcohol, a consequence of boating may be a collision that causes serious injury or death to the driver and/or their passengers. Alcohol is the number one cause of fatal boating accidents, and U.S. Coast Guard statistics prove that year after year.
No matter where the boating is taking place — a lake, river, pond or ocean — there are no traffic lanes, a factor that greatly increases the chances of collisions on open waterways. People tend to have more experience driving on the roads than in the water, and thus people have less confidence boating than driving. Most people who go boating only do so an average of 110 hours per year.
To have an enjoyable and safe boating experience, make sure you know the rules of handling watercraft and be aware that boating can go awry at a moment’s notice.
Lee, Gober and Reyna – If you need a personal injury lawyer or help with an auto accident, motorcycle accident, wrongful death, or burn injury case, contact Lee, Gober and Reyna by visiting http://www.lgrlawfirm.com or calling 512.800.8000
The post Drinking and boating kills first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>A boat operator with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10 percent is 10 times more likely to have a boating accident than a sober boater. That is a statistic to make people think twice about drinking and boating.
If the boater is inexperienced, speeding, not mentally sharp and clear-headed and his or her inhibitions are relaxed due to the alcohol, a consequence of boating may be a collision that causes serious injury or death to the driver and/or their passengers. Alcohol is the number one cause of fatal boating accidents, and U.S. Coast Guard statistics prove that year after year.
No matter where the boating is taking place — a lake, river, pond or ocean — there are no traffic lanes, a factor that greatly increases the chances of collisions on open waterways. People tend to have more experience driving on the roads than in the water, and thus people have less confidence boating than driving. Most people who go boating only do so an average of 110 hours per year.
To have an enjoyable and safe boating experience, make sure you know the rules of handling watercraft and be aware that boating can go awry at a moment’s notice.
Lee, Gober and Reyna – If you need a personal injury lawyer or help with an auto accident, motorcycle accident, wrongful death, or burn injury case, contact Lee, Gober and Reyna by visiting http://www.lgrlawfirm.com or calling 512.800.8000
The post Drinking and boating kills first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The Safe Boating Council has these guidelines:
Try It On
- Check the manufacturer’s ratings for your size and weight.
- Make sure the life jacket is properly zipped or buckled.
- Raise your arms straight up over your head while wearing your life jacket and ask a friend to grasp the tops of the arm openings, gently pulling up.
- If there is excess room above the openings and the life jacket rides up over your chin or face, it does NOT fit properly. A snug fit in these areas signals a properly fitting life jacket.
Fit Facts
- It is extremely important that you choose a properly fitting life jacket.
- Life jackets that are too big will cause the flotation device to push up around your face, which could be dangerous.
- Life jackets that are too small will not be able to keep your body afloat.
Important Reminders
- Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved.
- Double check that your life jacket is appropriate for your favorite water activities.
- Take the time to ensure a proper fit. A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems.
- Life jackets meant for adults do not work for children. If you are boating with children, make sure they are wearing properly fitted, child-sized life jackets. Do not buy a life jacket for your child to “grow into.”
All figures are from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2012 Recreational Boating Safety Statistics, the latest official record of reported recreational boating accidents. The full report is available online at: www.USCGBoating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx.
- Drowning was reported as the cause of death in almost three-fourths of all fatalities.
- Approximately 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
- In 2012, the Coast Guard counted 4,515 accidents that involved 651 deaths, 3,000 injuries and approximately $38 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.
- Approximately 14 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
- Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure and excessive speed are the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
- Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of the deaths.
- Twenty-four children under age thirteen lost their lives while boating in 2012. Forty-two percent of the children who died in 2012 did so from drowning.
- The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (19%) and cabin motorboats (15%).
National Recreational Boating Statistics
- Fatalities: 651
- Drownings: 459
- Injuries (requiring medical treatment beyond first aid): 3,000
- Boating Accidents: 4,515
- Property Damage: $38,011,601
- Number of registered recreational boats in the U.S.: 12,101,936
Unfortunately, Texas is the number 3 state for boating deaths and the number 4 state for boating accidents.
Remember to be safe. Don’t let you or your family become another statistic.
The post National Safe Boating Week: The Statistics first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
First, you must report your injury to your employer. Federal law requires you to report any work-related injury within seven days, but you should do so immediately.
If your injury while at sea is severe, you will be taken to a hospital, probably by Coast Guard helicopter. Whether your medical treatment is emergency or non-emergency, follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.
Your employer will generally require you to fill out an accident report. Complete it to the best of your ability. If you do not feel clear-headed because of the injury or any pain medication, tell your employer you will fill it out after their effects subside. The form will probably have a section asking you who was at fault in the accident. If you believe the company was at fault, write that down. If you are unsure, write that you are unsure and will have to think about it. In short, be honest.
Your employer’s insurer will ask you to give a written or tape-recorded statement. It is rarely to the worker’s advantage to do so. Do not make a statement to the insurer before consulting an attorney.
When you meet with an attorney, you should expect a frank and fee-free evaluation of the prospects for your case and advice on how to proceed. If your injuries are minor and your employer is cooperative, you may not need an attorney. But it is a very good idea to speak with one as soon as possible.
Your attorney will instruct you not to settle your case until your medical treatment is complete and you are back at work. Even if you feel all right, you do not know whether you can perform a physically demanding job until you are back at it.
The post What to Expect in a Jones Act Case first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>
I’m going to talk about statistics later in the week, but I wanted to start with the most important safety advice for boating: WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET.
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in almost three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2012 and that 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
I know when I was a kid and my dad lived on Lake Austin, I couldn’t wait to turn 14 so I wouldn’t have to wear a life jacket. Frankly, I was an idiot. Too many things can easily go wrong if you’re not wearing your life jacket. In most emergencies, you won’t have time to get life jackets out of storage and pass out to all your guests. Or heaven forbid you hit your head on something and get knocked unconscious. Wearing a life jacket in advance is the only way to protect you in those circumstances.
Don’t let your vanity cost you your life.
The post National Safe Boating Week: Wear Your Life Jacket first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>