One Person Killed, Second Person Injured in Miami-Dade County Boat Accident
According to a report from CBS 4 Miami, one person was killed and another person was seriously injured in a boat accident in North Miami. Emergency rescue crews responded to the boating accident at Oleta River State Park, NE 163rd Street. The injured victim was immediately transported to an emergency medical center for attention. The boat accident is still under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Boat Accidents are Far Too Common: The Reasons Why They Happen
Boat accidents remain a serious public safety issue. Nowhere is the problem more severe than in Florida. The unfortunate reality is that our state leads the nation in boating accidents and boating accident deaths. In fact, more than twice as many boat accidents were reported in Florida in 2019 than in any other state. Even other large states like California, New York, and Texas see far fewer serious boat crashes. 2019 is not an outlier. Florida has consistently been a high risk area for boat injuries. Here are four of the most common reasons why serious boat accidents happen in South Florida:
- Intoxicated Boating: Under Florida law, it is illegal to operate a boat while impaired. Boaters should refrain from drunk boating and/or drugged boating. Intoxicated boating is negligence and it is extremely dangerous. A boat operator can be held legally liable for a crash that occurs while they are driving under the influence.
- Speeding: Many boat accidents are caused by operators going too fast for the water conditions or weather conditions. Boat operators need to slow down to avoid collisions. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.
- Distracted Boating: In too many cases, boat operators allow their attention to lapse. Similar to driving an automobile, a boat operator’s focus should be on the task at hand. In 2018, the United States Coast Guard released a report finding that distracted boating, much like distracted driving, has become a serious problem.
- Inadequate Maintenance or Safety Protection: Both commercial and individual boat operators have a responsibility to conduct adequate maintenance. Notably, boaters operators—especially commercial companies—have a legal duty to provide sufficient safety protection, including life jackets to passengers.
Every boat accident requires an in-depth, thorough investigation. If you were injured or your family member was injured or killed in a South Florida boat accident, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Your boat accident injury attorney will determine exactly what went wrong and take action to get you justice and full financial support.
Call Our Miami, FL Boating Accident Lawyers for Immediate Help
At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our Miami boat accident attorneys are results-focused advocates for victims and their families. We know how to hold negligent boat operators, negligent companies, and insurers accountable. For a free consultation, please call us today. We handle boat accident injury claims throughout all of Southeastern Florida. Our offices are located in West Palm Beach, Wellington and Miami.
Resource:
miami.cbslocal.com/2020/09/14/one-dead-second-injured-in-north-miami-boating-accident/
