Florida boating accident lawyers
Jet Ski Crash on Indian River Kills 12-Year-Old Passenger in Brevard County
According to preliminary incident reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) operating within Brevard County, a 12-year-old boy suffered fatal injuries this past Friday morning after he was ejected from a jet ski during a collision with another vessel along the Indian River near Rockledge.
Man Loses Parts of Both Legs in Cape Canaveral Dredging Accident
A man was seriously injured in Cape Canaveral, Florida on November 11th, while he was working as on a channel dredging barge. The man fell from a barge and was injured underwater by a pair of spinning propellers that caused him to lose one leg below the knee, as well as the foot on the other leg. The victim was able to cling to a rope and was rescued by fellow crew members. He was immediately taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center. His name has not been released, and the Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
Wilton Manors Boating Accident Claims the Life of Local Teen
A boating accident in Wilton Manors earlier this month claimed the life of a Florida teen and left five others with serious injuries. According to authorities the group of six teens were aboard a 13 foot Boston Whaler boat the night of August 13th, when they struck a low lying bridge on the Middle River near Wilton Manors. The accident occurred around midnight, in an area with extremely low visibility. Family and friends say the teens were out observing a meteor shower. Residents in the area saw the teens out on the water earlier in the day, and said they seemed to be exploring the area. Once the daylight faded, the unfamiliarity of the area proved fatal.
Fewer Florida Boating Accidents This Fourth of July
Typically the Fourth of July weekend is the perfect storm for boating accidents in Florida. However, this year law enforcement officers are reporting a decrease in the number of reported accidents – a result they claim is due to increased preventative measures.
Florida Law Enforcement Urges Residents to be Safe This Holiday Weekend
With the Memorial Day weekend upon us, law enforcement in the Orlando area urge holiday revelers to use caution while celebrating, and to always buckle up when they get behind the wheel. The Eustis Police Department and several other municipalities will be participating in a Nationwide focus on seat belt and child safety restraint enforcement during the long weekend. Lake residents who are travelling on Florida roads should take heed – the base fine for not wearing a belt is $16. Fines for unrestrained children can be much higher.
New ‘Designated Skipper’ Program
Everyone knows that drinking while boating is illegal, but people often bend the rules or to think that one or two beers won’t hurt. Now, the Sea Tow Foundation is kicking off a new campaign for a “designated skipper,” and authorities say they will crack down more than ever this year on DUIs.
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.
