Jacksonville Drowning Attorney

Florida's enjoyable beaches and warm weather attract thousands of young beach-goers every year. This is usually beneficial both for the people who move to or vacation in our state, as well as the growth in our economy that it allows. However, the large number of people on our rivers and shores also has a dark side: Florida has the highest rate of drowning-related deaths in the United States.

In 2006 our state saw 671 boating accidents, 69 of them fatal. Of those fatalities, all but eight were caused by drowning. Additional victims of near-drowning did not die, but did suffer serious and often permanent brain damage.

Causes of Fatal Accidents

According to the state Fish and Wildlife Commission, certain factors have been correlated with boating accidents resulting in drowning or near-drowning:

• Not wearing a life jacket (None of the drowning victims of 2006 were wearing one)
• Carelessly operating a watercraft
• Operating a watercraft without an appointed "lookout"
• Male operators age 36-50
• Vessels under 18 feet (These were the most likely to be involved in accidents)

Seeking Justice

At the offices of Jacksonville boating injury attorney Don Guthrie, we have the utmost sympathy for anyone who has lost a loved in a boating accident, whether to death or to the severe brain damage associated with oxygen deprivation. That is why we are committed to helping those who have been hurt by negligent boaters, or boating equipment manufacturers, win the compensation they deserve.

Filing a suit will not undo the damage caused by a boating accident, but it will help to ease the serious financial burdens often faced by survivors. For more information, contact Jacksonville drowning attorney Don Guthrie at 904-493-6455.