Have You Been Injured in a Boating Accident? Get Help from a Florida Attorney

Posted by: DFX on May 13, 2017

coastline-998252_640Many people love boating in Florida and for good reason. The climate, water access, and lifestyle simply lends itself to boating. That said, the more people get involved in boating, the more boating accidents there are. If you’ve been injured in a boating accident then we encourage you to contact Gilbert & Smallman today for a free case evaluation.

Can you guess how many boating accidents there were in 2015?

The last year we have reliable statistics for is 2015. Can you guys how many reportable boat accidents there were? If you guessed 737 then you’re correct. To better understand what this means, it’s important to understand what a reportable accident is. Essentially, if it meets any of the following criteria then it should be reported:

  • Someone dies
  • The vessel is a total loss
  • Someone disappears in a way that indicates they may have died or been injured
  • There’s at least $2000 in property damage.
  • A person is injured in a way that requires more medical attention beyond what’s available in a first-aid kit.

Can you guess the most common type of boating accident?

Next, consider what the most likely type of boating accidents are. About 26% are boats colliding with other boats – which is the largest percentage of all boating accidents. May appears to be the month with more boat accidents than any other and Miami-Dade County leads the state in accidents and injuries.

As far as fatal boat accidents go, there were 52 fatal accidents back in 2015, and a total of 55 fatalities. About 64% of those who died in a boating accident died by drowning while 42% died after falling overboard. The best estimates say that around 20% of boating accident fatalities involve alcohol in some way – either by the person who died or the person who caused the accident.

Get help from a Florida boating accident attorney

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident then there may be help out there for you. Speak with a personal injury attorney who can assess your case. With a free consultation, you’ll be able to provide the general info about the case and they can give you specific options you may have. If they decide to take your case then you’ll pay nothing until the case is won. There’s really no risk to you but it could mean the difference between getting the compensation you deserve and getting nothing at all.