One of the biggest joys of living in Florida is the fact that maritime fun is an all-year event. Many boaters love to take their family members, friends and acquaintances out on the water and show them a good time.
Unfortunately, not everybody is as safety-conscious as they should be. Boating accidents happen often, usually for the following reasons:
Inexperience
Boating looks like it’s about as easy as driving a car – but looks can be deceiving. Skill comes with experience, and too many new boaters don’t take the time to learn how to properly navigate the waves or maneuver in the open waters. They may not even have a clear grasp of safety issues and regulations.
Negligent operation
The operator of a boat has to pay attention to their surroundings because conditions on the water can change suddenly. An operator who gets caught up in the fun and stops paying attention to other boats, the strength of the waves, sandbars and other obstacles can easily cause an accident.
Speeding
Excessive speed is a big problem on this nation’s highways – and some folks take their “need for speed” out on the waters. It can be fun to race the engine and feel a boat slap the water, but excessive speeds make it hard to control the boat and avert accidents.
Intoxication
Some boaters seem to think that all the rules go out the window once they’re out there on the water – but boating under the influence is actually illegal. Just the same, roughly half of all boating accidents involve drugs or alcohol.
If you’ve been injured because a boat’s operator made serious mistakes or operated the boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you have every right to expect fair compensation. Legal guidance can help you assert your claim.