South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Three people have died and two others were injured in Florida boating accidents during the recent Key West Super Boat World Championships. This past weekend proved to be offshore powerboat racing's deadliest week.

The most recent accident happened as world championships in 12 boating classes were being decided. Tributes were being paid to the three boaters who died earlier in the competition, according to The Miami Herald.

Most of us do not engage in boat racing. But the beginning of the winter season is an important reminder of the need to stay safe on the water. Our West Palm Beach boat accident attorneys understand that Florida witnessed the most fatal accidents in the United States in 2010. Florida's weather attracts people to the water all year round. Without formal boating education and without the proper safety measures, boating accidents occur all too often of our shores.

"It was tough for all of us, really, to get in the boats. But at the end of the day, I think as a group everybody felt that's what they would have wanted, was for us to go race," said Team CRC's throttleman Mike DeFrees.

The last accident happened when the 46-foot catamaran with four 1,200-horsepower engines leaped into the air after hitting a wave, flipped and slammed upside down in the water.

The previous fatal accident happened when the 28-foot Skater with twin 850-horsepower engines took a turn too quickly. The occupants of the boat rolled and both were killed. They died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

"I'm always up for more safety improvements," said Superboat Unlimited class winner Randy Scism. "We need to look at it (the accidents) and learn from them."

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were nearly 942,000 registered vessels in the state in 2010. Florida ranked number one again for having the most registrations. Officials believe that there are another million vessels on our waters that are not registered.

In 2010, there were nearly 700 boating accidents reported in our state. Out of these accidents, nearly 80 fatalities were reported and another 390 injuries. The number one cause of death in boating accidents was drowning, accounting for more than 60 percent of fatalities. About 80 percent of fatality victims were male.

Even though there are about 942,000 registered vessels in the state, fewer than 22,500 Boating Safety Education IDs were issued in 2010.

Florida's most dangerous counties for boating accidents in 2010:

1.) Monroe

2.) Miami-Date

3.) Palm Beach

4.) Pinellas

5.) Lee

6.) Broward

7.) Brevard

8.) Bay

9.) Collier

10.) Okaloosa

Of the 2010 boating fatalities, about 90 percent were experienced by Florida residents. About 90 percent of the victims were male. We ask boaters to be cautious on our waterways. As tourists and seasonal residents flock to our shores, congestion is sure to increase on the water. Keep safety as a top priority and consider taking a formal boating course to freshen up your skills.

Continue reading "Boating Accidents at Key West Boating Championship Illustrates State's Waterway Dangers" »

As the heart of boat season gets underway in Florida, our Fort Myers boat accident attorneys want to remind boat enthusiasts to keep safety in mind while sharing waterways with other users. The more populated the waters get with untrained operators, the higher the risk of negligent behaviors that could lead to fatal boating accidents in Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Lake Worth and Naples.

A miraculous story recently reported by ABC News reminds us of how family bonding on a fishing expedition can turn fatal with little or no warning. Eight family members recently went out on a boat in the Florida Keys for a weekend of fishing. They pushed away from land early Saturday and at around noon the family suddenly experienced gusts of wind up to 40 mph, in addition to waves as high as 10 feet. The rough waters and treacherous wind caused the boat to overturn, throwing all eight family members into the water.

A 4-year-old grabbed on to a water cooler, which helped her survive. Three male family members were able to tread water near the capsized boat while three female family members grabbed onto the cooler with the young child and floated away. After almost 20 hours of treading water, a commercial boater found the men Sunday morning. Coast Guard rescuers were able to locate the women and child soon after. The eighth member of the family, an 80-year-old mother and grandmother, did not survive. The seven survivors were taken to Fisherman Community Hospital to be treated for jellyfish stings and hypothermia.

Boaters experiencing these kinds of treacherous conditions not only fear drowning but are also subject to death from hypothermia. Even though the air is warm, the water can be quite frigid in some areas. Boatsafe.com reports that boaters are at risk of hypothermia when the water reaches the following temperatures (Fahrenheit):

-If water is 32.5 degrees, exhaustion or unconsciousness can be reached in less than 15 minutes.

-If water temperature is 40 to 50 degrees, unconsciousness is reached between 30 to 60 minutes. Victims can typically survive anywhere from one to three hours in these conditions.

-Expected survival time is two to 40 hours when water temperature is 60 to 70 degrees. In these conditions, exhaustion or unconsciousness occurs somewhere between two to seven hours.

The warmer the water temperature the more chance for survival, but other factors that can help determine how long a hypothermia victim will survive are body size, body fat and the amount of movement while in the water. The rate at which your body cools down is 25 time faster in cold water than in air.

Passengers thrown to the water in a boating accident should try to huddle together to preserve body temperature and avoid hypothermia. Wearing a life jacket will not only help prevent drowning but it also can free up your arms and legs to form a fetal position to protects areas of your body most susceptible to heat loss like your groin, back of knees or armpits.

If you plan to go out on a boat, reduce the risk of serious injury or death by checking for ideal boating conditions, especially if you are an inexperienced boat operator. Be responsible and always use caution around other boaters.

Continue reading "South Florida Boating Accidents Pose Risk of Hypothermia for Victims in Boca Raton, Elsewhere" »

A 58-year-old woman died recently during a scuba trip on a private boat. The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to the report at about 10 a.m. off the Boynton Inlet.

The call to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported that a boat was bringing the unconscious woman to shore. She was seen by medical responders and transported to the Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach. She later died at the hospital, according to The Palm Beach Post. The cause of death has not yet been determined by the Medical Examiner's Office.

Our Boca Raton personal injury attorneys understand that scuba diving is a popular activity for both residents and tourists. If you don't have your own boat or scuba diving equipment and will be venturing out with a scuba operator, remember to do your research. Scuba companies have an obligation to keep participants safe. They're responsible to researching weather conditions, ensuring safe rental equipment and ensuring that employed divers have the proper certification.

Scuba diving is a fun and exciting activity and everyone is urged to try. Florida is the perfect place to suit up and dip in. There are a number of Fort Lauderdale Dive Shops that offer customers a full range of equipment, tours, lessons and supervised dives. Future divers are asked to research potential dive companies thoroughly to determine which can best help to reduce your risks of a Fort Lauderdale scuba diving accident.

A recent report focusing on common causes of Open-Circuit Recreational Diving Fatalities analyzed nearly 950 recreational diving deaths that occurred between 1992 and 2003. The top causes for these fatal accidents are listed below.

Top causes of scuba diving accident fatalities:

-Drowning: 33 percent of fatalities.

-Arterial Gas Embolism: This is when respiratory gases expand during ascent. This occurrence accounted for 29 percent of deaths.

-Cardiac Incident: This is a common term for a heart attack or a stroke and accounted for about 26 percent of scuba diving deaths.

-Trauma: Trauma caused by an injury sustained while diving accounted for 5 percent of deaths.

-DCS: This term refers to decompression sickness or illness and represented nearly 3 percent of all scuba diving fatalities.

-Loss of consciousness: Oftentimes the loss of consciousness cannot be explained while diving, but makes up nearly 3 percent of these fatalities.

-Inappropriate Gas: This occurrence happens when an incorrect gas mix causes a death. This accounted for 2 percent of all fatalities.

Tips to get ready for your venture out to explore the underwater world off our Florida coastline:

-Speak with a doctor to make sure that your heart is in good condition.

-Train. Get your body into shape by doing cardiovascular aerobic exercises 5 to 7 times a week. You can try walking, biking, or jogging. If you're inside a gym, try using an elliptical, a treadmill or a stationary bike.

-Remember, you're not supposed to hold your breath while you're scuba diving. That's the golden rule! Practice steady breaths.

-Keep an eye on your air pressure. The rule of thumb says that you should surface when your tank has 500 pounds of air.

-Make sure that you're equipped with the necessary SCUBA, snorkeling equipment and instruction.

-Plan out your dive. Make sure your figure out exactly how long and where you'll be diving. Consider the direction of the current when planning.

-Never scuba dive alone!

-Take a course and memorize the functions of decompression stops, dive flags, precautionary steps and what to do if your equipment malfunctions.

Continue reading "Important Information to Avoid a Scuba Diving Accident in South Florida" »

Nine people have died while parasailing in the United States since 2002. Most of these fatalities and tourist injuries in Palm Beach and elsewhere happen because of towline separation. This usually occurs because of high winds or general equipment failure, according to the Sun Sentinel.

A parasailing accident took the life of a tourist last week in Sarasota County. These accidents -- particularly injury accidents -- are not uncommon as parasailing is a popular Florida activity that takes place with virtually no government safety regulations. The Longboat Key accident happened when a tourist from South Carolina went parasailing and plunged to the water after the tow boat's propeller failed and the parachute lost buoyancy. Officials are still investigating the accident.

Naples injury attorneys understand that visitors come to Florida to relax and have some fun in the sun. What most tourists don't expect is to be involved in an accident on the beach, on our roadways and virtually any other place they visit throughout the duration of their vacation.

A number of these parasailing companies have nothing in place to ensure their safe operation. A number of bills that aimed to impose equipment and safety standards for parasails failed time and time again in this year's state legislative session.

It is estimated that there are roughly 100 commercial parasail operators in the state of Florida. Most of these business are located in tourist-oriented cities such as Panama City, Key West, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach. A specific number of these companies is not available because no government agency tracks the industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies parasails as "kites." The FAA does nothing more than make sure they're kept out of flight paths. The Coast Guard will only license a captain and inspect a boat if they're a certain size, but they do not inspect or set standards for parachutes, harnesses, training or procedures.

Parasailing.com offers these tips for those who would like to enjoy the windy ride:

-Ask questions about the company. Ask how long the company has been in business and how many incidents have been reported.

-Make sure that the parasailing company you do business with is licensed by both the state and city or county and exists in a well-established location.

-Ensure that the boat's captain is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain.

-Check the weather report before you make plans to hit the sky.

-Before your flight, make sure that the parasailing crew gives you a safety briefing that covers evacuation procedures, the usage of hand signals and a thorough description of the parasailing experience.

Continue reading "Summer a Risky Time for Florida Parasailing Accidents" »

Taking a cruise across the ocean may be a dream vacation for some, but for others, it can become a dangerous nightmare.

Many people have "disappeared" and been injured in other South Florida cruise ship accidents on these tropical vacations, like George Smith IV. The family of the missing man sued the Royal Caribbean. The ship the couple traveled on doesn't have a safe history rap as the Crown Princess tilted sharply on one of its first voyages at sea. The rocky ship ride injured dozens as it caught on fire and destroyed numerous decks and balconies.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers urge passengers and crew members to travel safely and enjoy their time at sea, but also ask that you take the proper precautions to protect yourself on the ships armed with potential dangers.

George Smith was aboard a cruise ship in 2005 celebrating his honeymoon when he vanished somewhere between Greece and Turkey. His body has still not been found.

His parents and widow reached an amended settlement with Royal Carribean just weeks before the scheduled trial. The settlement awarded the passenger's family with more than $1.3 million, which is said to be close to his projected lifetime earning capacity.

While taking a trip across the ocean, the last thing you want to think about is injury. But the fact is, a number of things can go wrong on a cruise ship. Luckily, the International Maritime Organizations (IMO) stepped in to help and placed regulations for fire protection on cruise ships in 2002, according to IMO. These new rules encourage safe technological advances in fire detection and extinctions.

Your personal health and safety can be drastically affected on large ships as well. The biggest on-board concern affecting personal health is norovirus. This illness is easily transmitted from person to personal among close living quarters as it travels through shaking hands, sharing utensils, food distribution or not washing your hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 23 million Americans contract the norovirus every year. The best way to reduce your risks of contracting the norovirus is to always wash your hands with soap and warm water after you use the bathroom, before you eat and when you've returned from a shore excursion.

Not everyone on your ship might be vacationing like you. Millions of cruisers are exposed to potential terrorist threats. Because of these types of security threats, the U.S. and the United Nations have put strict maritime security laws into effect to help protect cruise ship guests. The IMO introduced the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) to help protect passengers.

"These regulations established international security regulations that require all ships, port facilities and governments to have formal security plans, screening measures, access control, waterside security and communications between ships and ports," according to the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL).

Today, passenger ships are subject to a seemingly endless array of regulations and standards that try to safely cover every aspect of ship construction and operation to help preserve the safety and health of passengers. Incidents over the years have continued to influence improvements in cruise ship safety requirements. Sometimes, there just aren't enough inspections and regulations to prevent an accident from causing injury.

Continue reading "Vacationers Face Cruise Ship Accidents While Traveling at Sea" »

An Indiana University student is struck by a train at Southwest 2nd Street and Southwest 2nd Avenue while celebrating his spring break in Fort Lauderdale, according to the The Sun Sentinel.

This is the second time an accident like this has occurred in recent months. Fort Lauderdale spring break injury attorneys encourage you to party safely and responsibly on the east coast this spring break.

The college student was struck by the train at 1:45 a.m. It has yet to be reported if alcohol or other drugs were involved. According to authorities, the spring breaker walked around the railroad gate, which was down and alerting caution, and was struck by the northbound train.

Spring break accidents are not uncommon. The Examiner provides a list of the top 10 spring break injuries. The list includes incidents of car accidents, falls, boating accidents, drownings and various alcohol-related incidents.

SafeSpringBreak.org offers local vacationers these tips to help ensure a safe spring break:

-Go out with friends, and go home with friends. Parting responsibly with friends can help keep some out of trouble and accounted for. Make sure you always have a designated driver.

-Practice safe sex. Let's not ignore the fact that spring breakers have a history of promiscuity. Bring proper protection and set boundaries. Think first and don't allow you self to wind up in a compromising situation.

-Hit the beach with a buddy. Remember that the Florida sun can take a toll on beach goers. Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water. Always swim with a friend. The east coast undertow can take hold of even the most experienced swimmer.

-Monitor your alcohol consumption. Be aware of the liquor laws in your spring break destination. A study by the University of Wisconsin reports that 75 percent of college males and 43 percent of females reported being intoxicated on a daily basis during spring break.

Continue reading "Ft. Lauderdale, Popular Spring Break Destination at Increased Risk for Injuries" »

August has already proven a tragic month for South Florida boating accidents after two Ft. Pierce men died just two days apart in separate boating incidents in the area, TCPalm.com reports.

Tragedies such as these illustrate that watercraft accidents resulting in injury or death are a constant factor for anyone who enjoys boating, swimming or fishing in South Florida waterways. If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of an accident in our area, speaking with a South Florida personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights.

The TCPalm.com article indicates that both victims had decades of experience on the water and weather played no role in their deaths. The body of commercial fisherman Cory Brangan, 26, was identified August 9. He was found alone in his boat which had run aground in Indian River Lagoon.

According to NBC-5, the other boater, Cornelius McPhall, 44, slipped, hit his head, and fell overboard while dropping anchor. He was pulled to sea by strong currents and was not wearing a life jacket.

In 2009, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a Fatality Data Report showing that Florida is second only to Texas in national boating-related fatalities. Out of nearly 982,500 registered sea-going vessels there were 65 recorded, investigated, boating-related deaths. The top five causes (in order of frequency) were: falling overboard, capsizing, swamping/flooding, collision with a fixed object and collision with another vessel.

Being aware of and obeying the rules, regulations and laws advancing boating and boater safety is the first and most obvious step to enjoying safe and responsible activities in the nearly 6,000 square miles of water surrounding Florida. But, perhaps the easiest thing a person can do when they head out on the water is simply wear a Coast-Guard approved life jacket.

Continue reading "Separate boating accidents claim two lives in four days in South Florida " »

Co-workers and the community are rallying around an off-duty Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy who lost her arm in a boating accident over the weekend, the Post reported.

She was off-duty when her 20-foot boat slammed into a dock north of the Donald Ross bridge on Saturday, causing a boat on a dry lift to crash down on hers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported. She was pinned underwater by falling debris before being freed by two men from a nearby home. A 38-year-old passenger in the boat was also injured.

Florida Boating Accident Attorney Gregg Hollander and the staff at the Hollander Law Firm have taken note of the large number of boating accidents this summer.

As we reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, Florida is the boating capital of the nation and more boating accidents occur in South Florida than anywhere else in the country. In 2008, a total of 55 people were killed and nearly 300 were seriously injured in 616 boating accidents. But, even by Florida standards, a large number of boating accidents are being reported:

- A man was badly injured in a Citrus County boating accident last week on the Homosassa River. The 23-year-old man's legs were nearly amputated after he was run over by the boat's propellers, Channel 10 reported.

-Last month, three men were hospitalized in serious condition after a Fort Myers boating accident.

- A Deerfield Beach man is facing BUI manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal Delray Beach boating accident on May 8. The 35-foot speedboat slammed into a navigation marker in the Intracoastal Waterway, killing a 31-year-old man who was thrown overboard, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

-A deadly Ponce Inlet boating accident on Memorial Day claimed the life of a pregnant woman and her father, Channel 13 news reported. Witnesses reported a large boat landed on top of the boat in which the victims were riding.

Visit Boat Safe for information about safe boating and boater safety courses. To learn more about Florida boating accidents, visit our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog.

Continue reading "Palm Beach deputy's boating accident the latest in a series of Florida boat accidents" »

The Memorial Day weekend is a dangerous time for South Florida car accidents. While we all hear about the dangers of driving on New Year's Eve, serious and fatal year-end holiday accidents have been mitigated in recent years by heavy enforcement and public service announcements.

In Florida, Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday of the year, with 39 fatal accidents reported in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But the trio of dangerous summer holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day -- begins this weekend and authorities are urging motorists to stay safe and drive responsibly.

Authorities on the West Coast are aiming to reduce Fort Myers car accidents with a series of sobriety checkpoints, according to The News-Press.

Drunk driving accidents are a leading cause of Florida traffic fatalities; a total of 1,048 of the state's 2,978 fatal traffic crashes involved a drunk driver in 2008.

It's also National Boating Safety Week and authorities are urging boaters to review safe boating habits as the summer boating season begins in earnest. As we reported recently on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, South Florida is the boating capital of the nation. Unfortunately, that means more boating accidents occur here than anywhere in America. In 2008, a total of 55 people were killed and 271 seriously injured in 616 Florida boating accidents.

Florida Holiday Traffic Fatalities in 2008:

New Year's: 15

Memorial Day: 29

Fourth of July: 30

Labor Day: 29

Thanksgiving: 39

Christmas: 32

Nationwide Holiday Traffic Fatalities:

New Year's: 141

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

Continue reading "South Florida car accidents, boating accidents, a danger through Memorial Day weekend" »

Three men remain hospitalized this week after a serious Fort Myers boating accident over the weekend, The News-Press reported.

While speed was reportedly a factor in the accident, a Fort Myers boating accident attorney should be called to investigate whether a mechanical defect or other problem contributed to the crash. The circumstances of this case suggest the boaters knew they were in trouble and did everything possible to avoid slamming into a seawall on Saturday night.

Accidents involving boats or watercraft in South Florida can be caused for a variety of reasons. But, when contributing causes such as a mechanical defect, unclear operating instructions or a poorly maintained rental boat or watercraft are responsible, victims may be entitled to compensation from the boat owner, insurance company or manufacturer.

A Cape Coral homeowner raced to the scene of the accident and found the 37-foot boat on land with all three 250-horsepower engines running. His wife called 911 as he climbed into the boat, which had flipped, and attempted to help the victims.

All three men remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical to fair condition. The Investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission may take several months. The witness said the boat appeared to be going full speed with the throttles wide open when it slammed into the seawall. The News-Press reported that the boaters appeared to be attempting to turn away from the collision at the time of the accident.

As we reported last month on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, Florida led the nation in boating accidents with a total of 616 in 2008. Fifty-five people were killed and 271 injured, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

May, June and July account for the majority of serious and fatal Florida boating accidents.

Continue reading "Fort Myers boating accident could involve mechanical defect " »