In Florida, the weather permits for watercraft and boating activity and recreation virtually year round. While boating, jet skis, and other watercraft recreation can be great fun, these activities also carry the risks of injuries and, in some instances, deaths when there is a watercraft / boating accident in Florida. If it can be proved that the owner or operator of a boat or personal watercraft was negligent, then a case or claim for personal injuries may be pursued by the boating or personal watercraft injury victim. A personal injury victim can pursue a civil case or claim for medical … Continue reading →

In Florida and other coastal States, driving trips are typically filled with adventure and fun. Some trips, however, end quite differently. It was recently reported that a Jacksonville man (Charles Newman) was found dead while diving from a boat in the Florida Keys (Big Pine Key). An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of the death of this man. Few details were offered in the initial news report of this incident. See Jacksonville Man Dies in Boating Accident. When adults and children are diving or otherwise engaged in swimming activities, safety measures should be taken to … Continue reading →

The boat operator involved in the President’s Day accident that killed two Middelburg teens, including his own, was cited for reckless operation. Ted Hanner, 49, was driving the 1985 Baja bass boat on Black Creek near the Knight’s Boat Ramp and Marina facility when the accident took place. According to a spokeswoman from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Hanner left the controls to pump the fuel bulb because the boat was running “kind of ragged,” and he was trying to get more fuel to the motor. The boat veered off and crashed into a tree three feet off … Continue reading →

As the summer months approach, many Floridians in Jacksonville spend their days partaking in popular hobbies such as boating and jet skiing. The waterways are more crowded than ever with more than one million registered and unregistered vessels in the state of Florida. As a result, unfortunately, accidents on the water are becoming more prevalent. Two people were injured after a personal water craft (also known as a jet ski) accident in the Jacksonville Intracoastal Waterway. John Bracey, a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said that two people on a watercraft hit a pole near Butler Boulevard at about 4 … Continue reading →

Two men are being treated for the personal injuries each sustained after they were ejected from their airboat. According to Brevard County Fire Rescue, the men had been riding the airboat over moslyt dry ground; the boat overturned and ejected the men around 7:54 a.m. Both men were transported to Parrish Medical Center. However, after doctors determine that one of the victim’s personal injuries were more severe and serious, this accident victim was transferred to the trauma center at Holmes Regional Medical Center. If you would like to read more on this story please see Two men ejected from airboat, … Continue reading →

United States Coast Guard officials sent a warning to all boaters that the most likely way to get killed or maimed while on a boat is to ride on the bow of the boat. Therefore, the Coast Guard will be cracking down on illegal bow riding, especially on vessels such as pontoon boats and small fishing boats. Children are even more susceptible to bow-related injuries because they are extremely likely to bounce off the bow. The bow is also one of the rougher areas to ride on a boat as opposed to riding on the back. Nathan Henise, Coast Guard … Continue reading →

In Florida, there is great joy and pleasure in owning a boat or just taking a ride on a friend’s boat. There are, however, many dangers to boating. One of which is the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators on boats power the electrical system and the air conditioning. It is vital that a generator is properly installed and that it is checked to make sure that carbon monoxide exhausts do not pose a threat to occupants of the boat. Tragically, there have been many reported incidents of people suffering personal injuries and even death as a result of carbon … Continue reading →