One of the most effective ways to guard against drowning is for boaters to wear a good, properly fitting personal flotation device (PFD) – more commonly known as a life jacket. Unfortunately, too many people don’t wear them.
That’s often because too many boat owners don’t have them on board. If they do, they may not insist that their passengers wear them.
What does Florida law require?
Under Florida law, all vessels are required to carry enough U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs for each person on board to have one. They must be the appropriate sizes for those currently on board, and they must be in good condition.
However, adults aren’t required by law to wear them unless they’re on or being pulled by a jet ski or other personal watercraft (PWC). In fact, only children under 6 are required by law to wear them if they’re on any vessel under 26 feet long if it’s “underway.”
The law also requires any vessel that’s at least 16 feet long to have a USCG-approved “throwable device,” commonly known as a life preserver. While this can be an important piece of safety equipment, it’s not nearly as effective in an emergency as wearing a PFD is.
Even experienced swimmers can drown
Too often, someone will believe that because they’re an experienced swimmer, they don’t need a PFD. They may even be teased by others on board for wanting to wear one.
It’s important to remember that drownings often result from someone falling overboard and striking their head on the side of the boat or something else, which makes their swimming skills irrelevant if they’re unconscious. All kinds of things can happen before or after someone hits the water to make them unable to stay afloat on their own. If someone has had a drink (or several), is on medications or suffers from vertigo, that can increase their chances of drowning.
As noted, it’s the responsibility of the boat’s owner to at least ensure that the appropriate PFDs are on board. If someone drowns or suffers injuries after falling or being thrown into the water because there were no PFDs available for them to wear, it may be possible to hold the vessel’s owner liable. If this has happened to you or a loved one, it’s wise to learn more about your legal options for seeking justice and compensation.