FWC Claims Excessive Speed and Inexperience Led to Recent Fatal Florida Boating Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 2, 2012

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials recently closed their investigation into one of two fatal boating accidents and found that excessive speed and a boater’s inexperience were contributing factors. The 53-year-old victim of one of the accidents died from injuries after being ejected from his watercraft and struck by another during a boating exhibition on Lake Dora. The fatal accident occurred on March 17 during the Classic Raceboat Association’s annual Spring Thunder Regatta. The victim was operating his speedboat when it struck the water at a dangerous angle, throwing him from his vessel. He was struck a few seconds later by a nearby boat and died instantly from his injuries.

FWC accident investigators report that the victim was not very familiar with the high-speed vessel he was operating and that the close proximity of nearby racing boats also contributed to the accident. The FWC reports that their investigation into another fatal boating accident that same weekend that claimed the lives of two people is still underway. A 64-year-old Jensen Beach man and a 73-year-old Sun City Center woman were killed in an accident that same weekend, but details about the accident have not yet been released.

Florida boating accident attorney James O. Cunningham would like to remind readers to exercise extra care on Florida waterways, especially during the busy summer months. Florida leads the nation in the number of boating accidents and people injured and killed in these accidents, with May and June being the deadliest months. In 2010, there were 73 fatal boating accidents in our state that claimed the lives of 79 victims. The majority of deadly accidents occurred between 4 and 6 p.m. (16) and 6 and 8 p.m. (11).

Many of these accidents involve intoxicated boaters, unsafe speeds, disregard for boating safety and other acts of negligence. 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 Orlando personal injury lawyer, call 888-425-2004 today. James O. Cunningham has made helping injured people the foundation of his law practice since 1977 and has helped countless victims receive the compensation they deserve through court awards and settlements. If you have questions about the law, your rights and your legal options, call today to schedule your free consultation.

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.