Jacksonville Injury Attorney Blog

A sailor from Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base died in a boating accident this weekend on the St. Marys River. The St. Mary's River forms the border between Florida and Georgia just north of Jacksonville.

The victim was with seven other people on a 20-foot recreational power boat when he fell off of the boat at about 4 p.m.
He was at the front of the vessel, which apparently had been traveling about 15-20 mph when he fell into the river. Unfortunately, he was not wearing a life preserver.

As Jacksonville boat accident lawyers, we see serious personal injury and wrongful death result far too often from boat accidents. Because it is easy to fall out of a boat or to be thrown from a boat if it strikes another object, it is imperative to wear a life preserver when boating. Even good swimmers should do so as a collision may render a person unable to swim either by injury or lack of consciousness.

Continue reading "Boating Accident on St. Mary's River at the Florida Georgia Border Claims Another Life" »

Here in the Jacksonville area and Southeast Georgia, we have a lot of beautiful waterways for boating. However, that beauty can be easily spoiled when a boating accident occurrs.

Unfortunately, this weekend another such example took place. One person was killed and two others survived after a 23-foot boat rammed into the jetties at Jekyll Creek south of Brunswick Sunday. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Georgia authorities.

As injury attorneys in Jacksonville, we see numerous boating related personal injuries. Often such injuries result from the driver of the boat striking a dock, another boat, or an underwater structure such as a jetty or shoal. Drinking is commonly involved in boating accidents.

Continue reading "Another Boating Accident Claims a Life" »

Throughout Jacksonville's waterways, the Coast Guard, the Florida Wildlife Commission, and the sheriffs for Clay County, Duval County, St. Johns County and Nassau County will be on the lookout for boating safety issues this weekend. The Fourth of July weekend presents a very busy time for boats on our local waterways which results in an increased risk for boating accidents and personal injuries.

Wearing a life jacket the entire time while boating is recommended. Just like a car accident, boating accidents come with very little warning. Since boats don't have seatbelts, an accident can easily throw a person into the water. With strong currents and the possibility of injury or unconsciousness from the accident, being thrown from a boat can easily cause drowning.

Unfortunately, some of the boaters will operate their vessels under the influence of alcohol. Operating a boat while drunk causes many of our worst boating accidents. Every year in Florida, and Jacksonville, we see significant injuries and death from boating accidents. Earlier this year 5 people were killed and many others seriously injured when a twenty-two foot boat carrying fourteen people crashed into a barge parked on the side of the intracoastal waterway in St. Johns county.

Continue reading "Jacksonville Area Officials Concerned About Boat Accidents over the Fourth of July Weekend" »