It’s that time of year again, when school is out, the weather is great, and Florida’s coastal location means just one thing; it’s time to enjoy the water, and your boat. But when you take out your boat, you need to be careful. It should come as no surprise that that Florida’s mild weather and marine location make it one of the busiest areas of America for recreational boating activities.
And that means that the chance of a boating collision or other mishap is greater. In fact, the Tampa Bay Times reports that there are three interesting numbers happening in our area’s boating scene right now. Unsurprisingly, the number of boats out on the water is on the increase. With a growing, affluent population, that’s going to happen. What’s more interesting is the figures that relate to what state law refers to as “reportable” boating mishaps. To qualify as reportable, a boating incident needs to meet one or more criteria; there is a death, injury, loss of the entire boat, or damage greater than $2000 in value.
What data is now reporting is that while fatalities in boating have not gone up, the actual number of collisions and other mishaps is on the rise. In other words, there are more accidents, even though the death toll is not on the rise. That’s definitely a “good news/bad news” scenario.
Boating Crashes Have Legal Options Too
While most legal cases surrounding vehicular injury are land-based, focusing on automobile and motorcycle injuries, that’s not to say that the water is ignored. Neglect in maneuvering a boat can be just as dangerous as any neglectful driving, with the added hazard that people thrown into the water can drown.
Because of this we urge you to be careful and mindful of your surroundings if you’re taking to the water this year. A boat may be a recreational vehicle for most, but that doesn’t mean it’s somehow easier to use or ignore than any other vehicle. Taking out your phone and consulting your email or text messages is still not advisable, and just because you’re not in a car, doesn’t mean that consuming large amounts of alcohol while still steering a boat is okay.
But even if you are exercising all the care and diligence in the world to ensure you, your friends and family have a safe, good time while on the water, there’s no guarantee about other people. Through no fault of your own, someone else, doing all the things they shouldn’t, could end up colliding with your boat and causing damage or even worse, injury or death.
When that happens, you have every right to go to court. The St. Pete Lawyer specializes in personal injury and vehicular accidents. This includes cars, motorcycles, and boats as well. With the number of boating related incidents on the rise, we’re ready to represent you when you know that you’ve been the victim of someone else’s neglect. Contact us with your case, we’ll give you an assessment to see what needs to be done. We know how to build a case, investigate and gather evidence, and all of this effort makes your case that much stronger when the time comes.
