Jacksonville Boat Accident Lawyer
With warm ocean and air temperatures year round, Florida is a prime destination for out of state tourists and locals alike to have fun on the beach and in the water. But, with that influx of out of towners who may not have adequate experience operating jet skis and motor boats, and with alcohol and operator distraction running rampant among tourists and locals, Jacksonville is also a major hotspot for water vessel accidents. And, accidents on the water carry an additional risk: drowning. Florida is among one of the more dangerous states in terms of boating fatalities per registered vessel. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, in Florida there are between 7.5 and 9.9 deaths per 100,000 registered vessels. In most boating accidents the cause of death is drowning, and the majority of drowning victims (84 percent in fact) were not wearing lifejackets. However, other injuries can be sustained from boating accidents, especially if it involved a high speed collision with another boat or a stationary object such as a buoy or dock.
The cause of water vessel accidents is usually due to one of the following: operator inattention, operator inexperience, no lookout or improper lookout, alcohol, weather, or excessive speed. As you can see, many of these causes, aside from improper lookout and operator inexperience, are contributing factors to auto collisions as well. If you have been injured in a boating accident that was caused by another party, including the negligence of the operator of the boat you were on, you may be able to collect financial damages. Contact an experienced Jacksonville boat accident lawyer today.
Major Causes of Boat and Jet Ski Accidents
The top five accidents, vessel type, and contributing factors of water vessel accidents are as follows. The five most common types of accidents are collisions with recreational vessels, flooding or swamping, collision with fixed objects, grounding, and water skier or wakeboarder mishap. As for the top five vessels involved in accidents, the ranking descends from open motor boats, personal watercraft (such as a jet ski), cabin motorboats, canoes or kayaks, and pontoons. Finally the leading contributing factors (causes) of the accidents are operator inattention (becoming distracted), lack of proper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol intoxication. There may be heavy boat and jet ski traffic in Jacksonville, but there are few laws or regulations, and of the laws there are, they are often disobeyed and are difficult to enforce to the low levels of policing in Jacksonville’s oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Boating Accidents Don’t Just Lead to Drowning, Serious Injuries Are Commonplace
In 2014, there were 365 reported serious injuries in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The top 14 types of injuries were lacerations, contusions, broken bones, head injuries, back injuries, sprains or strains, internal injuries, neck injuries, dislocations, teeth and jaw injuries, burns, spinal injuries, shock, and amputations. Many of these injuries incur incredible financial and emotional turmoil, and both can be lifelong debilitations.
Contact our Experienced Jacksonville Boat Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one have been injured in a boating accident, you need an aggressive advocate on your side who will protect your rights and help you recover compensation. Contact one of our experienced Jacksonville boat and jet ski accident lawyers today at 1-844-200-0000 with The Pendas Law Firm.
