Boating Accidents May Be Dropping in Florida
Thanks to statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard (PDF), Floridians know that we have the highest number of boating accidents in the United States. Given our wealth of coastline and waterways, maybe that’s not surprising -- after all, there aren’t many boating opportunities in Kansas. But as a personal injury lawyer in South Florida who’s handled many boating accident lawsuits, I’ve hoped and believed that we can do better.
For that reason, I was pleased to read in an article on the Web site of Miami’s CBS 4 that we may have some good news at the end of this year. The main part of the article is about the tragic death of recreational boater David McMillan, who was just 34. My sympathies go out to his family and friends. But further down in the article, we learn that a $350,000 boating safety awareness campaign by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission may be paying off. CBS reported that boating-related deaths are actually on track to drop in Florida for the third year in a row. As of early August, the article said, there were 32 boating deaths in the year 2008 in Florida, compared to 54 during the same time in 2007.
In fact, according to the FWC, the rate of fatal accidents has been declining since 2005, when 80 fatalities were reported for the entire year. And that’s true even though the number of registered vessels in Florida is increasing. As the agency points out as part of its Wear It Florida campaign , the majority of boaters involved in fatal accidents are actually older people with substantial boating experience -- not drunk, inexperienced or speeding kids. Most often, they know how to swim, but aren’t wearing the life jacket that could save them when they grow tired or are knocked unconscious.
The FWC’s and Coast Guard’s statistics both track recreational vessels only -- meaning that accidents involving cruise ships and other commercial vessels aren’t part of those numbers. And because cruise ships can be dangerous places that aren’t always held accountable by Florida law, I would certainly prefer to see them tracked in some way. But despite that omission, it’s cheering to hear that our state’s safety campaign is working. Let’s hope 2008 and 2009 continue this trend.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a boating accident or injured on a cruise ship off Florida’s coast, contact Cohn, Smith & Cohn for a free evaluation of your legal claim.
