South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog

State law enforcement officials are reminding South Florida residents that a stepped up patrol presence on roadways isn’t the only place officers will be looking for drunk and impaired drivers this Labor Day weekend. Deputies will also be patrolling our inland and off-shore waterways hoping to keep recreational boaters safe and accident-free as well, tbnweekly.com reports.

According to the article, 18.5 percent of boating fatalities were alcohol or drug related; 65 people died in Florida boating accidents in 2009. Not surprisingly, Florida leads the nation in boating incidents with 982,470 registered vessels involved in 620 reported boating accidents in 2009, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission reports.

A FWC review of annual boating accidents found that 62 percent of reportable accidents occurred in 10 Florida Counties, with Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward County ranking in the top five for number of boating accidents. If you have been injured in a boating accident, talking to an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of Florida boating laws can help you preserve your rights.

Recent data compiled by the FWC indicates that boating accidents are on the increase in 2010 with three drowning so far this summer caused by people jumping from boats into high-traffic waterways. Officials say that swimmers often overestimating their abilities or are unfamiliar with potential dangers lurking beneath the surface in open-water.

Of course, alcohol is often a factor, and officials suspect it to have played a role in this year’s upswing. “Operating a vessel or engaging in other waterborne activities while drinking is just not a smart idea,” Capt. Carol Keyser of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section said.

Continue reading "Labor Day car accidents, boating accidents a danger throughout the Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area" »

A Chicago man and his 6-year-old daughter were injured in a parasail accident on Monday, the Miami Herald reported.

Freeman & Mallard offers free and confidential appointments to tourists injured at attractions or on rental equipment -- including parasails and Jet Skis -- throughout South Florida, including Miami, Margate, Hollywood, Coral Gables and West Palm Beach.

In this case, the parasail malfunctioned and bounced them across the water and into a seawall, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Rental jet skis and other water attractions pose a serious threat to the health and safety of tourists. When a tourist is injured in a Miami accident or accident elsewhere in South Florida, a rental company, parasail business or other attraction can often be held liable for the injuries.

Jet Ski and watercraft rentals are particularly dangerous. About one-third of all serious watercraft accidents injure riders with fewer than 10 hours of experience; Nearly three-quarters of accidents involve riders with fewer than 100 hours of experience. More than 150 riders were seriously injured in Florida personal watercraft accidents last year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Miami-Dade and Broward County are ranked fourth and fifth in the state for the number of serious watercraft accidents. Like watercraft rental companies, parasailing operations have an obligation to ensure tourists and guests enjoy the water safely. When someone is injured, the company can and should be held responsible.

In this case, the father and daughter went up on the parasail about 5 p.m. Monday in the waters east of Miami's Bayside Marketplace. The parasail had trouble during the trip and went down, dragging the pair through the water until the rope broke. At one point the two collided with a seawall until a gust of wind shot them back into the air and then dropped them onto the ground.

Both were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Continue reading "Miami parasail accident injures tourists; Rental jet ski accidents also a summer danger" »