With its 1,350 miles of coastline, 4,500 square miles of inland waterways and tropical climate, Florida is a paradise for boaters. Having a boat is as normal as having a car for some Floridians.
Since there are more registered recreational water vehicles in Florida than any other state, it may not come as a surprise that Florida also leads the nation in boating accidents and fatalities.
According to data reported by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, there were 662 boating accidents in Florida last year, resulting in 283 injuries and 50 deaths.
Nationally, the Coast Guard counted 4,515 accidents that resulted in 651 deaths, over 3,000 injuries and approximately $38 million of property damage in 2012.
The good news is that the numbers are trending in the right direction. There were fewer accidents and fatalities reported in 2012 than the previous year in Florida and across the U.S.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the cause of death in 62 percent of boating accidents in the state last year was drowning. Alcohol or drug use played a role in 11 percent of boating fatalities.
Monroe County reported the highest number of accidents and injuries in the state in 2012 with 100 total accidents, which included five fatalities and 61 injuries.
Nationally, compared to 2011, the total number of deaths from boating accidents decreased 14 percent.
Unfortunately, a failure to have all passengers wear life jackets often contributes to a wrongful death on the water.Among the boaters who drowned nationally, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Among the 24 children who died in boating accidents, ten were drowning victims and only two of them were wearing life jackets as required by law.
Earlier this year, two Jacksonville men were killed and a woman seriously injured when their 16-foot motorboat collided with a dock near the Pelican Reef Neighborhood on the evening of May 27, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. None of them were wearing life jackets.
In a majority of recreational boating accidents, the operator of a boat involved is negligent in some way. Less than 14 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received safety instruction. Excessive speed on the water often is accompanied by the use of alcohol, which can be a deadly combination.
Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents across the U.S. It was listed as the leading factor in 17% of deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent operator of a pleasure or business water craft, you need the help of knowledgeable boating accident attorneys like those at The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic. Our attorneys have comprehensive knowledge of maritime laws and many years of experience in the area.
With its 1,350 miles of coastline, 4,500 square miles of inland waterways and tropical climate, Florida is a paradise for boaters. Having a boat is as normal as having a car for some Floridians.
Since there are more registered recreational water vehicles in Florida than any other state, it may not come as a surprise that Florida also leads the nation in boating accidents and fatalities.
According to data reported by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, there were 662 boating accidents in Florida last year, resulting in 283 injuries and 50 deaths.
Nationally, the Coast Guard counted 4,515 accidents that resulted in 651 deaths, over 3,000 injuries and approximately $38 million of property damage in 2012.
The good news is that the numbers are trending in the right direction. There were fewer accidents and fatalities reported in 2012 than the previous year in Florida and across the U.S.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the cause of death in 62 percent of boating accidents in the state last year was drowning. Alcohol or drug use played a role in 11 percent of boating fatalities.
Monroe County reported the highest number of accidents and injuries in the state in 2012 with 100 total accidents, which included five fatalities and 61 injuries.
Nationally, compared to 2011, the total number of deaths from boating accidents decreased 14 percent.
Unfortunately, a failure to have all passengers wear life jackets often contributes to a wrongful death on the water. Among the boaters who drowned nationally, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Among the 24 children who died in boating accidents, ten were drowning victims and only two of them were wearing life jackets as required by law.
Earlier this year, two Jacksonville men were killed and a woman seriously injured when their 16-foot motorboat collided with a dock near the Pelican Reef Neighborhood on the evening of May 27, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. None of them were wearing life jackets.
In a majority of recreational boating accidents, the operator of a boat involved is negligent in some way. Less than 14 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received safety instruction. Excessive speed on the water often is accompanied by the use of alcohol, which can be a deadly combination.
Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents across the U.S. It was listed as the leading factor in 17% of deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent operator of a pleasure or business water craft, you need the help of knowledgeable boating accident attorneys like those at The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic. Our attorneys have comprehensive knowledge of maritime laws and many years of experience in the area.
The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic has secured multimillion dollar recoveries for seamen and recreational boaters alike.
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