A 19-year-old Texas woman recently died from injuries sustained in a boating accident on Choctawhatchee Bay. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is now investigating the incident.
According to a preliminary report the commission released, the young woman’s personal watercraft was struck by a 30-foot boat driven by a 76-year-old man from Shalimar. The boat she was using was a rental. The report did not indicate fault for either party — just that the vehicles collided at a 90-degree angle. The man reportedly stopped as soon as the collision happened and called 911. A person who was with the victim jumped into the water and pulled her onto his watercraft, then took her to a nearby marina.
The woman was wearing a floatation device at the time of the accident. Her watercraft had extensive damage, and there was slight damage done to the boat. There were no signs of drug or alcohol impairment on the part of either boat operator.
Boating accidents on the rise in Florida
Florida is already the state with the most boating accidents and deaths in the nation. And, recent studies have shown the frequency of these accidents continues to rise.
Boat operators, like the drivers of cars and motorcycles, are expected to follow all safety regulations and practice reasonably safe behaviors. If they fail to do so, they could be liable for any accidents or injuries that occur due to their negligence.
To learn more about your options after a serious boating accident in Florida, meet with a skilled Bradenton personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.