Articles Posted in Boating Accidents

It’s prime boating season in Florida and its no wonder – the weather is perfect. Most of the boating accidents that happen in our state occur during the months of March, April and May when residents and tourists are enjoying our coastline and inland waters.

While cruising in a motorboat is a great recreational activity, it’s not without hazards. Did you know that the state of Florida was first in the nation for boating accidents in 2008? The US Coast Guard’s report on recreational boating shows that Florida had 616 reported accidents causing over $22.7 million in property damage during 2008 alone. In Southwest Florida’s three counties, Collier county ranked number 6 in the state for the highest number of accidents, Lee county ranked 9th and Charlotte county ranked 19th. Most of these accidents happened in broad daylight during afternoon hours and were caused most often by operator inattention to surroundings and other vessels.

So what can you do to be safer in the water?

Safety at Sea Can Prevent a Serious Accident

Just as our area roadways experience more traffic with the onset of the annual tourist season, so do our waterways. Recreational boaters increase dramatically as part-time residents and visitors from around the world descend on Southwest Florida, and enjoy its ideal waterfront lifestyle.

Florida has the highest number of registered boats in the country – over 1 million as of 2008 – according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, (FWC), Department of Law Enforcement. Lee County alone, with its miles of sandy shoreline, rivers and inlets, accounts for over 50,000 registered vessels, making this one of the hot spots for boating accidents and increased boating safety awareness. In fact, the top 10 Florida counties as ranked by boating accidents include Collier County at number 6, and Lee County at number 9, for the year 2008. The vast majority of accidents on the water involve collisions with another vessel, and the large majority of those have been found to be due to lack attention by the boat’s operator. Of course, just as on the highway, alcohol use plays a primary role when analyzing Florida boating accidents. The Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies enforce strict laws regarding boating under the influence, (BUI), laws, with severe penalties for those found guilty of the offense.

This weekend is Labor Day weekend. Be careful!

With ready access to so many bodies of navigable water in and around Southwest Florida, it comes as no surprise that accidents involving personal watercraft are common. Sometimes referred to as “jet skis” or “water bikes”, these forms of aquatic transportation are plentiful on our area waterways, and their capability for speed can make an unsafe operator and those around him prime candidates for a serious injury.

In 2001, there were 309 PWC accidents in Florida. Of those, 121 were caused by the careless or reckless driving of the vessel’s operator.

Florida boating accident lawyers and personal injury and wrongful death attorneys remind boaters that increased law enforcement presence on the water this summer is aimed at reducing traffic boating accidents.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up enforcement along the Naples shoreline — reminding boaters that most accidents are caused by boat operators, whether your boat or another boat on the water.

Carelessness, inattention, navigation-rule violations, poor choices during bad weather, inexperience and alcohol consumption can all lead to tragedy on the water.

As the summer season kicks into gear, safety advocates remind boaters that being out on the water can be fun, but it can also be dangerous.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit offers the following tips:

-Take a safety course offered through the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary.

-Wear a life jacket.

-Don’t operate a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

-File a float plan with a loved one or close friend so they know where you are going and when to expect your return.

-Take a fully charged cell phone.

Here are some other important safety facts to keep in mind:
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As Southwest Florida boating season begins in earnest with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, Florida injury lawyers urge safe boating practices to avoid boating accidents.

Lee County kicked off National Safe Boating Week with a demonstration of safety gear on Thursday at Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.

Florida leads the nation in registered boats. And Lee County’s 50,464 registered boaters rank it fourth in the state for the number of boats on the water. But the county’s 30 percent decrease in accidents last year has area officials optimistic.

“We were blessed last year that we had a low year in the number of boating accidents but we should not get complacent,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Capt. Denis Grealish told The News-Press. “We still have a very active and busy boating county with 50,000-plus registered motorboats and 230 square miles of inside coastal waters.”

Besides Grealish’s FWC law enforcement unit, Lee waters are patrolled by the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; the Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sanibel police departments; and the Army Corps of Engineers at the W.P. Franklin Lock on the Caloosahatchee.

“I really have to credit the reduction to the boaters of Lee County, for exercising good safe boating practices, as well as to our Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force,” Grealish said.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2007 statistics, 5,191 accidents caused 3,673 injuries and claimed 685 lives. Property damage was estimated at $53 million.

If you are boating on the water, the operator of your vessel has an obligation to boat responsibly, provide occupants with life vests and follow the rules of the water. And other vessels have an obligation to boat responsibly so that everyone may enjoy their time on the water.

Coast guard statistics show:
* 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
* Alcohol was the leading contributor in one-fifth of all boating fatalities.
* Only 14 percent of boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instructions.
* The most reported type of accident is collision with another vessel. However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and account for the majority (60 percent) of boating deaths.
* Operator inattention, careless/reckless operations, excessive speed and passenger/skier behavior are the leading contributors to accidents.

Boat responsibly. Wear a life jacket. Never boat under the influence. Take a boating safety course and get a free vessel check.
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