Florida Has Highest Number of Boating Accidents of All States
There is no wonder why many Floridians enjoy boating. But, because of its popularity, Florida also has a high rate of boating accidents.
September 20, 2012
Florida Has Highest Number of Boating Accidents of All StatesWith nearly one million registered boat users, Florida is the home of recreational boat use. Since the state has so many beautiful waterways and has fantastic weather, there is no wonder why many Floridians enjoy boating. But, because of the popularity of boating, Florida also has a high rate of boating accidents. In fact, Florida had the most boating accidents of any state in 2011, with a total of 668 accidents.
Large Numbers of Injuries and Deaths
There were 79 boating deaths in Florida in 2011. While some people may associate boating accidents with high speeds only 48 percent of boating accident deaths were due to ejection. The majority of boating deaths were unfortunately due to individuals falling overboard and drowning. The majority of the boat operators and the victims were male and alcohol or drug use was involved in 15 percent of the deaths.
More than 400 people survived the boating accident they experienced, but they still suffered from injury. The most common type of injury was laceration, followed by broken bones and contusions.
Keeping Boating Safe
There are many things boaters can do to keep themselves and their passengers safe. For example, Florida Marine Officers caution that many drowning accidents can be prevented by using a personal flotation device. A little over half of drowning victims do not use flotation devices.
In addition, Florida now requires everyone born after January 1, 1988 to take a boating safety course approved by the state. While this requirement is likely to help future boaters, many people are still able to operate a boat untrained. While experience is important, training may be essential to the prevention of boating accidents.
The mechanical status of the boat is also important. Therefore, checking the boat's systems is also an important way to make sure that boats operate safely and no accidents result on the water because of mechanical failure.
Boating is a fun way to spend time in the great outdoors with friends and family. Boaters should make sure that they are following proper safety rules in order to protect themselves and their guests. Floridians injured in boating accidents can speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about their legal options for recovery.
Article provided by James & Zimmerman, P.L.
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