Orlando, Florida Boating Accident Attorneys
According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, each year about 5,000 people are injured and 700 people are killed in boating accidents nationwide. The most common types of vessels involved in reported boating accidents were open motorboats (44%), personal watercraft (24%) and cabin motorboats (15%).
More boating accidents occur in Florida than in any other state. In 2007, there were 663 boating accidents statewide. Furthermore, the number of boating accidents has increased each of the past three years. Inexperience is the number one cause of boating accidents; only fourteen percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury or wrongful death as a result of another person’s negligence, contact our Orlando, Florida boating accident attorneys today and schedule a free consultation. We can help you recover compensation for your suffering.
Boating Accident Causes
The U.S. Coast Guard reports the following as the top ten most frequent causes of boating accidents:
- Operator inattention (628 accidents – 435 injuries – 47 deaths)
- Careless/reckless operation (553 accidents – 445 injuries – 33 deaths)
- Passenger/skier behavior (492 accidents – 458 injuries – 47 deaths)
- Excessive speed (473 accidents – 425 injuries – 31 deaths)
- Alcohol use (391 accidents – 145 injuries – 341 deaths)
- No proper lookout (375 accidents – 266 injuries – 20 deaths)
- Operator inexperience (353 accidents – 234 injuries – 42 deaths)
- Machinery failure (312 accidents – 146 injuries – 21 deaths)
- Weather (148 accidents – 70 injuries – 36 deaths)
- Equipment failure (141 accidents – 40 injuries – 17 deaths)
** 2007 U.S. Coast Guard statistics
Boating Accident Representation
Our Orlando, Florida boating accident attorneys handle claims involving grounding, capsizing, sinking, flooding or swamping; falls within or overboard a vessel; persons ejected from a vessel; fire or explosion; collision with another vessel or object; person struck by a vessel, propeller, or propulsion unit; electrocution; and swimming accidents.
At Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna & Ruffier, we help victims obtain the fair compensation to which they are entitled. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of another’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, diminished earning capacity property damage and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Orlando, Florida Boating Accident Attorneys
We offer a strong voice for Florida victims of serious personal injury. If you have been injured in a boating accident of any king, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Boating and watercraft accidents can be very complex. You need an attorney you can trust. To speak with one of our experienced litigators, contact our Orlando, Florida office today. Our boating accident attorneys will evaluate your claim and explain your legal options.
