Be Careful On The Water!
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
Florida is a state blessed with sunshine, warm weather and a pleasant environment all year round. But the march of the calendar means that even if we don’t get full seasons of environmental change, we do get the human traffic that comes with seasonal changes. And one of the biggest seasonal changes of the year is upon us now with summer.Summer doesn’t just mean warmer weather, it also means a huge upsurge in people with more free time, both local and from out of state. With summer vacation both adults and teenagers get some long overdue recreational time, and for Florida, that means there will be a big rise in the number of recreational watercraft out on the waters all around the state. And that also means a rise in the possibility of accidents.
No License Required
People that own boats in Florida do not need to have a license to operate that boat. The closest we get to that in this state is that anyone who was born from 1988 onwards is required to have taken a boat safety course, with a certified card as proof. Beyond that, however, anyone can operate a boat, and smaller craft, with no motors, such as rowboats, can be operated by anyone, while motorized craft, such as jet skis, can be legally operated by anyone over the age 22, with anyone over the age of 14 able to do so as long as a boat safety course has been taken.
While this means that many people in Florida can enjoy boating activities with relatively low barriers to entry, that also means there’s a very low threshold of operating competence required. Those two factors, combined with the rise in locals on the water, then compounded by a huge influx of summer tourists, means that there’s a very real chance that people with little marine experience are enjoying themselves out on the water. And that lack of operational competence and experience greatly increases the likelihood of inattentiveness on the water and possible accidents.
Keep An Eye Out
As with driving a car, even if you conduct yourself in a careful, cautious manner while you’re out on the water, you have no control over how carefully—or carelessly—others take their boating activity. This becomes even more of an issue when you consider that the vast majority of boating activities in Florida are recreational, and that means sometimes poor decisions, such as consuming alcohol, are involved.
Always look out for your own safety and those other passengers with you while out on the water. Take the appropriate preventive measures, such as wearing a working personal flotation device in the event of being thrown from a water craft and ending up in the water. And be mindful of other water craft and what they are doing. Even if you are correctly operating your vehicle, if you see another, larger vessel, for example, bearing down in your direction, and it’s clear from the music and activity on the craft that people are drunk and not paying attention, don’t assume that they’ll see you with enough time to course correct.
Know Your Rights
Sadly, one side-effect of Florida’s almost perpetual boating season is that boating accidents can—and do—happen throughout the year. Being intoxicated while operating a boat can happen with the same likelihood as a drunk driving collision on land.
If you get involved in a boating accident and there are injuries involved, make sure you take the appropriate steps. Talk to a lawyer with expertise in boating accidents and make sure that you get the legal protection and compensation you may be due.