Monday, May 11, 2015

IT IS SPRING AND SUMMER TIME, HERE COME THE BOATING, SAILING, FISHING, PARASAILING AND JET SKI ACCIDENTS: WOMAN INJURED WHEN JET SKI COLLIDES WITH BOAT NEAR MONUMENT ISLAND










MAY 10, 2015

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

A woman was airlifted to Ryder Trauma center Sunday afternoon after the water scooter she was on collided with a boat, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The 30-year-old woman, who has not been identified, had “non-life-threatening injuries,” according to FWC Spokesman Jorge Pino.

The accident, which is being investigated by the FWC, happened at around 6 p.m. near Monument Island in Miami Beach.

The boat remained at the scene. It was not clear Sunday night what caused the crash and who, if anybody, would be facing charges.

IT IS SPRING AND SUMMER TIME, HERE COME THE BOATING, SAILING, FISHING, PARASAILING AND JET SKI ACCIDENTS

It is this time of the year again with many boating, fishing, jet ski, sailing accidents reported.  Several deaths have already been reported across the nation.

Owners and operators of boats and jet skis are liable for injuries they cause through reckless behavior or general negligence on the waterways of our community. At Metropolitan, we work with lawyers in determining the factors involved in a boating, sailing, fishing, parasailing or jet ski incident. 

Since many water-related incidents involve alcohol, it’s important to determine if a mechanized vessel (boat or jet ski, etc.) operator was drunk or impaired at the time of an incident.  However, since there can be a substantial lag time between an incident on a lake or river and the ability of the authorities to conduct a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test, it’s important to interview witnesses and those onboard a boat to verify that drinking played a role. 

In boating and jet ski incidents that do not involve alcohol, we expose negligence and reckless behavior involving violations of the rules governing navigable waters and safety compliance issues. 

If you’ve been seriously injured in a boat or jet ski incident, contact us today to begin the investigation immediately. 

Injuries and Water-Related Incidents 

The investigation firm of Metropolitan Forensics assists people injured in water-related incidents involving the following: 

·         Intoxicated boat operators
·         Collisions with other boats or jet skis
·         Jet ski, parasailing, fishing, sailing, boating incidents
·         Running aground, causing people to be thrown from the boat
·         Lack of life preservers or other safety devices
·         Hitting sandbars, buoys or other obstacles in the water
·         Onboard fires or explosions
·         Boat Operators and Owners – Liability for Boating Safety

Boat owners and operators are responsible for complying with safety regulations in the upkeep and maintenance of their vessel in order to keep us all safe. 

Additionally, boats should have functioning life preservers and a fire extinguisher. Consequently, boat owners and operators can be held liable for injuries that result from poorly maintained boats or an absence of life preservers. 

Even if a boat owner or operator is not at fault in causing an incident, he or she can still be held liable if the lack of life preservers or absence of a fire extinguisher played a role in injuries that occurred after a collision. 

And, while a boat owner may have little by way of boating insurance, in most cases, damages can also be collected from a person’s home owner’s policy.