Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
An 18-year-old died when she was hit by a propeller trying to board a New Jersey boat over the weekend officials say.
The teen was on a raft being pulled by the boat and, when she tried to get on the boat, was hit by the propeller. Additional details were not immediately available Tuesday. The investigation is ongoing.
Officials urged boaters and swimmers alike to be advised of boating safety and propeller safety protocols stating that even when in neutral or at rest, propellers can still present a danger.
Recent String of Propeller Incidents
A man was significantly injured when the propeller of a passing boat hit him during the lobster mini-season which runs from July 24-25 every year. The man, later identified as 20-year-old Sean Bender, was hit around 8 a.m. off of Big Coppitt Key in the Lower Keys while diving for lobster.
His parents have since shared miraculous news of his recovery stating that he is singing and walking again, according to reporting from CBS Miami. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Bender’s accident came within days of a woman near Orlando who died after she went overboard on a pontoon boat on the Ocklawaha River and was hit by the boat’s propeller. The woman was quickly pulled from the water but tragically died on the way to the hospital.
About a week before the man was injured, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued advisories to boaters to watch out for divers-down flags during the mini-season. These flags must have the divers-down symbol and be prominently displayed as an alert to approaching vessels that there are people in the water. When spotting a flag of this kind, boaters must operate at idle speed within 300 feet of the flag in open water or within 100 feet in inlets and navigational channels.
Leesfield & Partners
With a stronghold in places like Miami, Key West and Orlando for over four decades, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have seen numerous cases of accidents on the water involving horrific injuries and tragic losses. Knowing firsthand the devastation that these kidneys of accidents have on clients and their families, Leesfield & Partners regularly publishes safety advisories on its digital board outside the Miami office on U.S. 1 which is passed by thousands of commuters each day in the city.
Recently, Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial lawyer with the firm, settled a case involving an FWC officer who struck and tragically killed a Key West diver.
Attorneys with the firm secured a $1.7 million settlement for a family whose lives were forever changed after a teen boater struck and killed their son at full speed while he was snorkeling. The family had divers-down flags prominently displayed on the day of their child’s death. The boater did not stop and tried to cover up evidence and lied to police following the incident. Neighbors testified in court that the teen would regularly drive the vessel recklessly in the area.
The firm previously handled a case involving the amputation of a minor’s leg as a result of a boating incident. Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured a substantial settlement amount on behalf of the minor for negligent supervision of boating activities.
In another case, a family who lost their 20-year-old daughter as a result of a boat crash was awarded $1,325,000. Leesfield & Partners attorneys filed on behalf of the family with multiple defendants and discovered that not only was the driver of the boat speeding at night but he had also been drinking the night of the crash with the concrete dock.
Boating Safety Tips
In statistics from the FWC’s latest data reporting incidents on the water, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties were among the top ten places with the highest injury rates in the state. The majority of these incidents happened in July and were due to either a crash with a fixed object or with another vessel. In all of Florida, there were 59 deaths taking place of accidents on the water. About 16 of these fatalities happened after a crash with a fixed object. Falling overboard accounted for approximately 14 deaths. Operators involved in at least 83% of the fatal incidents on Florida waters did not have formal boater education.
- Never let children drive the boat
- Always ensure that children under 5 years old wear a life jacket when on the water
- Be sure that all equipment on your vessel is functioning properly and meets all safety requirements.
- Keep supplies such as flares, radios, first-aid kits and flotation devices on board in case of an emergency.
- If someone falls overboard, slow down immediately, throw them a flotation device and turn off your engine completely.
- Never drink and boat
- Take boating education courses to brush up on your skills regularly.
