Fort Lauderdale Boat Crash Results in Fatality, Numerous Injuries
A Florida boating accident that occurred Saturday evening on the Intracoastal Waterway near Fort Lauderdale has claimed the life of one victim. Officials at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicate that two boats carrying approximately 10 people were traveling together along the waterway at about 8 p.m. when one of them hit a concrete dock. The force of the impact was great enough to throw at least one occupant out of the vessel into the waterway. Neighbors in the area rushed to the scene when they heard the impact from the accident, which could be heard for a considerable distance.
Many area residents had seen the boats in the moments leading up to the crash, and estimated that the occupants were in their teens and twenties. Several parents arrived to pick up their children as investigators worked the scene. Many parents were visibly upset. The cause of the accident is still under investigation at this time. The names of the individuals driving the boats and their passengers have not been released at this time.
The onset of warmer weather has many Florida residents taking to the water this spring, and this phenomena will only continue into the summer months, as temperatures rise. The website for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicates that there are over 900,000 registered boats in the state of Florida, and that 736 reported accidents occurred in 2013, which is the newest data available. Of these 736 accidents, 432 resulted in serious injury with 62 deaths. Miami-Dade County reported the most accidents at 104, with 4 fatalities.
Boating accidents are surprisingly similar to auto accidents with one important difference. Though an accident victim may survive the incident, if they are thrown into the water, they risk drowning if they are unconscious or too injured to swim on their own. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that nearly 85% of accident victims are male, and 72% are over the age of 35. This represents a major population demographic that many families rely upon for support. The loss of income that results from an injury or death to someone in this demographic can be severe for many families. Fortunately, we are here to help.
At the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A., our legal team is experienced in personal injury litigation. We can help you negotiate through the legal maze of obstacles you may encounter while putting your life back together again. If you or someone you love has been injured in a boating accident, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.