Florida Man Seriously Injured in Alcohol-Related Boating Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on September 23, 2012

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.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials say that alcohol was a contributing factor in a boating accident that sent one man to the hospital with serious injuries. Accident investigators report that the accident occurred around 6 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Fort De Soto Park near St. Petersburg. They say that a 20-foot Mako boat carrying five men collided with a navigational marker near Bunces Pass. The injured man was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition. The other passengers suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment. FWC officers seized the boat and the channel marker while they conducted their investigation. They report that charges in connection with the accident are pending.

In 2010, as in other years, our state led the nation in boating accidents by a wide margin. These accidents resulted in 79 fatalities and many hundreds of injuries. Many of these accidents involved alcohol consumption and other negligent behavior. When a negligent boat operator causes an accident, they can be held liable for damages to pay for medical bills, property damage, the pain and suffering they inflict and others.

If you or a member of your immediate family has been injured in a boating accident and you would like to speak with an experienced Florida boating accident lawyer, call James O. Cunningham today at 800-425-2004. Mr. Cunningham is one of the most experienced personal injury attorneys in Central Florida and has a proven record of success helping clients receive compensation through court awards and negotiated settlements. Schedule a free consultation today to get a skilled and experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer on your side!

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.