Last Updated: October 2nd, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Read Time: 4 Minutes
The Rising Number of Boating Accidents in Florida
Florida leads with the most boating accidents in the country. In 2017, Florida accounted for 723 boating accidents, with California falling second with 350 reported accidents – that’s a 106% difference. Florida’s boating accidents also reached an all-time high in 2017 with 766 reported accidents, even though this same year a record 48,301 boating safety education cards were issued.One of Florida’s most alluring appeals is its year-round good weather, which invites locals and tourists alike to explore its beautiful waters. In 2017, spring and early summer months witnessed the most boating accidents, with July leading the charts with 113 reported accidents. While every county in Florida has seen its fair share of reportable accidents, these are the top five counties for boating accidents in Florida in 2017:- Monroe County – 1 in every 306 registered vessels was involved in an accident
- Miami-Dade County – 1 in every 893 registered vessels was involved in an accident
- Broward County – 1 in every 722 registered vessels was involved in an accident
- Pinellas County – 1 in every 1,125 registered vessels was involved in an accident
- Lee County – 1 in every 1,111 registered vessels was involved in an accident
Who’s to Blame for Boating Accidents?
Much like with car accidents, the primary type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel, accounting for 28.7% of all reported accidents. This is followed by collisions with a fixed object, flooding, falls overboard, and hitting an underwater object.With most of the boating accidents reported in Florida involving the boat’s owner in 81% of the cases, it is not surprising that the number one cause of accidents is driver inattention. Other causes include:- Operator inexperience
- Machinery failure
- Weather
- Excessive speed
- Careless operation
- Alcohol use
Common Injuries from Boating Accidents
Beyond the property damage associated with a boating accident, there are also bodily injuries that can be life-changing for the victims. In 2017, Florida waters witnessed 437 reported injuries, another all-time high in the past five years. The most common types of injuries reported in boating accidents in order of frequency include:- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Burns
- Sprains and strains
- Neck injuries
- Spinal injuries