Boating Accidents – Fort Lauderdale Injury Lawyer Discusses the Consequences
Boating accidents are a concern for residents of coastal states, says Broward personal injury attorney Andrew Alitowski. With 1,800 miles of coastline, two-thirds of it comprising the state’s sandy beaches, Florida residents own thousands of boats – and the tourists and part-time residents who enjoy the balmy winter months of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties operate even more.
There are nearly one million boats registered in the state of Florida, with many of them taking to the canals in Fort Lauderdale and the coast off of the city. Famous for its beaches, Fort Lauderdale has drawn boaters for many years. Unfortunately, not all boat operators are well-versed in the rules of the water, especially those who did not grow up boating, says Fort Lauderdale accident attorney Alitowski.
Boating under the influence, or BUI, is one major cause of boating accidents. Many boating accident personal injury lawsuits involve plaintiffs who were injured by intoxicated boaters. Lots of local Floridians and tourists take to the waters on warm, sunny weekends and especially for holidays. Holiday revelers spend hot afternoons drinking on the boat, but this behavior carries risk: boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries criminal penalties, just as drunk driving does. If the boat operator is impaired, he is significantly more likely to cause a boating accident. Thousands of boating accidents in the United States each year are caused in whole or in part by intoxicated boat operators.
Injuries sustained during boating accidents can be severe. For example, wrongful death suits can arise out of especially bad boating accidents. Those involved could suffer head or spinal injuries, which will permanently affect their lives and their ability to earn a living, in addition to resulting in large medical bills. Burns and broken limbs are other possible physical injuries. Property damage occurs in virtually all boating accidents and, although a responsible boater should be insured, the expenses are steep.
Andrew Alitowski and William Moore are experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys who provide legal representation for numerous types of claims, such as slip and fall accidents and wrongful death cases. If you or a loved one have been injured in the Fort Lauderdale-Miami-West Palm Beach area, contact a south Florida personal injury attorney at 1-888-ASK-ANDREW to find out if you could be eligible to receive monetary damages. Broward personal injury lawyers Alitowski & Moore have provided outstanding legal representation to thousands of injured clients. Offices are located in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.
Article contributed by Mallory Shipman, Esq.
