After all, it was only one year ago in the early hours of New Year’s Eve that a 42-foot custom speed boat named “Blue Steel” crashed into a jetty near Fort Lauderdale shortly after midnight on Dec. 31, 2019.

Lives Forever Changed by Florida Boating Accident

The driver of that boat, a chief executive officer of two separate insurance companies, now faces five misdemeanor charges and a $100 million lawsuit. He’d reportedly just purchased the vessel when he crashed it onto the jagged rocks, where a husband and wife aboard were ejected. The female plaintiff, who was celebrating her birthday that day, reportedly suffered a fractured skull, brain injuries, broken nose, permanent facial scarring, leg injuries, rib injuries and internal injuries.

As The Sun-Sentinel reported, the couple allege the CEO, a longtime friend, was under the influence of wine and mixed drinks and was driving recklessly and distracted at night. No one kept a lookout, they said, and defendant, who was inexperienced and not using GPS, was driving so fast the boat planed over the water and occupants had to hold on tight to avoid losing their balance. He’d missed a port turn into the unlit jetty and attempted to circle back and try again, landing at a dangerous angle against the rocks. Rescue efforts were complicated and delayed by the precarious position of the boat on the rocks.

An attorney for the CEO denied the criminal charges and blamed the “well-known and dangerous conditions of the jetty.” Another attorney lamented the end of a years-long friendship “over money.” Meanwhile, one of the plaintiff who’d been celebrating her 33rd birthday has undergone two brain surgeries, has yet to return to work and her injury lawyer says she “will never be the same again.”

Florida Boating Accident Statistics

This is just one story out of hundreds stemming from boating accidents every year. Even when victims live, they are often forever changed. And while the circumstances of each incident are different, our Fort Lauderdale boating accident attorneys know there are some repetitive common themes.

As stated earlier, Florida routinely leads the nation in boating accidents, deaths and injuries. Reportable boating accidents in any given year number somewhere between 500 and 800, resulting in hundreds of injuries, dozens of deaths and millions of dollars in property damage.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (which investigates most Florida boating accidents) reports:

• Florida leads the nation with the most registered vessels (nearly 1 million).
• There were 723 reportable boating accidents last year (those involving a death, requiring medical treatment beyond first aid or resulting in more than $2,000 in property damage).
• Collision with vessel was the No. 1 type of Florida boating accident.
• Boaters falling overboard is the No. 1 type of boating fatality, with drowning being a leading cause of death.
• Alcohol or drug use played a role in nearly 1/3 of boating accident deaths.
• Nearly 70 percent of the operators involved in fatal boating accidents were age 36 or older.
• Personal watercraft accounts for 14 percent of all registered vessels in Florida, but 26 percent of reportable boating accidents. PWC rentals are commonly cited in serious boating accidents, particularly in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Pinellas counties.

Boating accident liability in Florida is usually based on negligence. If a boat operator does not maintain and operate the vessel in a safe and reasonable manner, he or she could be held liable for injuries that result.

Operating a boat while impaired is one example of negligence. Others would be:

• Taking a vessel out in adverse weather conditions.
• Turning into a wave incorrectly.
• Speeding.
• Failing to provide proper safety equipment.

If you are injured in a Fort Lauderdale boating accident, our skilled injury lawyers at The Ansara Law Firm can help answer your questions and help you seek justice.

Call Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorney Richard Ansara at (954) 761-4011. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Additional Resources:

Couple sue boat driver for $100 million in Port Everglades jetty crash, Aug. 5, 2020, By BROOKE BAITINGER and MARIO ARIZA, The Sun-Sentinel

The 2015 Boating Accident Statistics Report reveals the Sunshine State had 737 reported boating accidents last year. That is more than 100 more than what was reported in 2014. A spokesman for the agency was quoted as saying most of these crashes and fatalities could have been prevented if operators had been paying attention and if passengers had all been wearing life vests.

Florida has the most registered vessels of anywhere in the country, with 915,713 registered as of last year.

The No. 1 type of accident was collision with another vessel. There were 191 of those, accounting for 26 percent of all boating accidents.

Of the 737 accidents reported, there were 438 injuries and 55 fatalities. Of those who died, 42 percent were killed in accidents where passengers fell overboard. The No. cause of death in fatal boating accidents was drowning, accounting for nearly 65 percent of all deaths. Alcohol and drug use played a factor in nearly one-fifth of all boating deaths.

The deadliest months for boating deaths: May and July. (This probably has a lot to do with Memorial Day and the 4th of July being extremely popular holidays for boaters.)

South Florida was an especially perilous place for boaters. Miami-Dade had the highest number of both accidents and injuries reported – 96 accidents, 74 injuries and three deaths. Monroe County, home to the Florida Keys, ranked No. 2, with a total of 37 injuries and five fatalities. Broward County was No. 3, with 39 accidents without injury, 13 accidents with injury and five fatal accidents.

Here in Broward, the vast majority of boating accidents involved open motorboats and cabin motorboats. Only a fraction involved personal watercraft, sailboats and air boats.

The top factors in Broward boating accidents were identified as:

• No proper lookout – 20 crashes
• Machinery failure – 11 crashes
• Operator inexperience – 5 crashes
• Excessive speed – 4 crashes
• Alcohol use – 4 crashes

Other issues cited included poor weather, sharp turns, lack of proper lights, hazardous waters, failure to vent fumes and careless/ reckless operation.

Florida far outranks other states when it comes to boating accidents. Still, it should be noted that while the total number in 2015 was significantly higher than the year before, it was generally on par with what had been reported in years prior.

• 2011 – 742 boating accidents
• 2012 – 704 boating accidents
• 2013 – 736 boating accidents
• 2014 – 634 boating accidents
• 2015 – 737 boating accidents

The number of registered vessels too was up as well, from 899,635 in 2014 to nearly 916,000 in 2015.

The Broward boating accident rate is 1 crash for every 749 registered vessels. Statewide, it’s 1 crash for every 1,242 vessels.

When it came to personal water craft accidents, Broward ranked No. 12. There were a total four personal water craft accidents in the county last year, resulting in three injuries. There were thankfully no fatalities. The No. 1 location for personal watercraft accidents was Miami-Dade, where 33 crashes and 29 injuries were reported.

In total, there are 114,000 personal watercraft registered in the state – $3,150 of those being rentals – and there were 161 accidents last year, resulting in four deaths and 128 injuries. Statewide, the accident rate is 1 for every 727 vessels. In Miami, it’s 1 for every 401 vessels.

Call Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorney Richard Ansara at (954) 761-4011. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Additional Resources:

2015 Boating Accident Statistics Report , May 2016, FWC

More Blog Entries:

Fort Lauderdale Injury Lawsuit Filed After Bounce House Blows Away From Beach, May 10, 2016, Fort Lauderdale Boating Accident Lawyer Blog