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Orlando Boaters Urged to Take Approved Safety Course
Our Orlando personal injury attorneys recently read a very disturbing statistic taken from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s “How to Boat Smart: Florida Boating Safety Course.” On page 39 of the publication, there is an “Accident Pyramid” diagram, which shows how different factors lead to Florida boating accidents. The diagram shows that mechanical failure and other problems with equipment cause only ten percent of boating accidents in our state. However, it shows that 75 percent of boating accidents are caused by human error, such as:
Florida Man Seriously Injured in Alcohol-Related Boating Accident
Orlando boating accident attorney James O. Cunningham would like to remind readers that drinking alcohol while boating on Florida waterways dramatically increases the chances that you will be involved in a boating accident. He urges everyone to take a boating safety course or refresher course, refrain from drinking while boating and observe all speed limits, no-wake zones and other safety measures to make area waterways safer for everyone. The following post about a Florida boating accident illustrates the dangers of drinking while boating very well.
Authorities Seek Help From the Public in Florida Hit-and-Run Boating Accident
Florida Fish and Wildlife Investigators have recovered the boat that struck and injured two people in a hit-and-run boating accident, but they are asking for the public’s help in finding the person or persons responsible for the accident. Investigators found the 25-foot WhiteWater boat on Sunday, July 29th, in the Dinner Key Marina, but they do not have much information regarding who was piloting the vessel when it struck the two victims. Earlier that day, the boat slammed into a 13-foot Boston Whaler, and the collision wounded the two people aboard the smaller boat, one of them seriously.
An Orlando Boating Accident Attorney’s Guide to Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Penalties
Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has seen and assisted a lot of Florida boating accident victims over the nearly four decades since he began practicing law. Sadly, many of these accidents were caused by negligent boaters who operated their vessels while under the influence of alcohol. Florida has more than 11,000 square miles of waterways. In 2011, there were at least 25 confirmed cases of accidents caused by boating under the influence of alcohol or BUI. These accidents resulted in dozens of injuries that required trips to the emergency room. In order to raise awareness about the risks of BUI and help make Florida waterways safer for the upcoming busy summer boating season, Mr. Cunningham has compiled a list of criminal penalties for boaters who drink while operating their vessels.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.