Spring is upon is in South Florida, which means more tourists, busier roadways and the start of boating season. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) latest statistics, there were 982,470 registered vessels in Florida in 2009 - over 45,000 of which are registered in Broward County.
Of the top 10 counties in Florida with the most boating accidents in 2009, Broward County ranked number 5, with 30 accidents and 12 injuries. Palm Beach County ranked number 3, with 56 accidents, 21 injuries and 3 fatalities. Miami-Dade County ranked number 2, with 62 accidents, 52 injuries and 4 fatalities.
Fort Lauderdale - also known as the boating and yachting capital of the world - is home to thousands of boats and yachts. As our waterways start to attract more spring breakers, boating enthusiasts and locals, it is important to remember boating safety. While many Florida boating accidents are caused by inattentive or inexperienced drivers, many boating accidents are alcohol or drug-related as well. Boating Under the Influence - or BUI - is a serious crime which puts not only the boat driver and their passengers' lives at risk, but other people's lives as well.
A BUI is similar to a DUI in that the arrested person would have a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher (0.02 for boat drivers under 21) and their boat will be impounded, just as a person's car is impounded when they are arrested for a DUI. According to the FWC, alcohol or drug use account for 18.5 percent of boating-related deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, it is important to contact an experienced boat accident lawyer. These types of cases can be very complex and require the assistance of an attorney who understands the laws that apply to your case. Contact the boat accident lawyers at Law Offices Cytryn & Velazquez today at 1-877-853-7466 for a free, no obligation consultation, or visit our website for more information.
Dan Irving Cytryn is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer handling South Florida injury and accident cases for 30 years. He has received a 10.0 rating on AVVO, a lawyer rating service, which is the highest rating given for a lawyer. He is also rated the highest ability and ethics rating, "AV", by Martindale Hubbell, a company rating lawyers for more than 100 years.
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