Florida leads nation in fatal boating accidents

Many Florida residents enjoy spending time in area waters. With Florida surrounded by water and having several lakes, the water adventures are numerous. Most of the time people are able to enjoy the water safely, but occasionally a fatal boating accident occurs.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently released its annual report which highlighted the number of boating accidents in the state in 2017. The report showed that there was a 14 percent increase in boating accidents with 67 people who died. Florida leads the nation in both boating accidents and boating fatalities. Falls overboard are the leading type of fatal accident.

When a family goes out onto a boat in Florida they don’t expect they will be involved in a serious accident. Unfortunately, many families are affected by these accidents each year. Other boaters are often not paying attention or have had too much to drink. These dangerous situations can affect a family in just seconds. If a family has lost a loved one due to a boating accident they may want to speak with a legal professional who specializes in wrongful death cases. An attorney can investigate what caused the fatal accident and hold the negligent party responsible for their mistake. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.

Pursuing compensation through a wrongful death case is important for families who are facing unexpected medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages, and other financial difficulties. Families are entitled to this compensation when their loved one is taken from them far too soon as the result of negligence.