If you’re going to be swimming, boating or engaging in other watersports in Florida, it’s important to remember that people driving the boats around you may not see you. Many boaters know that they need to watch out for other watercraft, yield the right of way, have proper running lights and things of this nature. They are focused on trying to avoid an accident. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they see people who are swimming.
This can have tragic results. For instance, there was an accident earlier this year where a teenage girl was wakeboarding with her family. She fell off of the board and was floating in the water as she waited for the boat to come back and pick her up. Unfortunately, she was run over by another boat while still in the water, and she passed away from her injuries.
How did it happen?
At first, people speculated that drugs or alcohol had been involved. They imagined a boat full of people who were partying and not paying attention or acting recklessly.
However, the boat was caught on video, and it showed that it was simply an elderly man who was boating alone. He hadn’t consumed any alcohol, and he didn’t even realize what had taken place when he got home. He only found out about the incident later, when he was contacted by law enforcement.
Seeking financial compensation
This story helps to show why people need to be very careful on the water, as one small oversight could lead to a serious accident. Those who have been injured or who have lost loved ones need to know if they can seek financial compensation from the responsible parties.