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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boating Accidents

Nationwide, there were 3,474 injuries and 710 fatalities from boating-related accidents in 2007. Overall, two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned and in 80% of the drowning incidents, the boats were less than 20 feet in length.

In Florida there were 668 accidents and 77 boating deaths in 2007. How big a factor was the sex of the operator in boating accidents? Ninety percent of the boaters killed were men. How effective were speed limits in preventing fatalities? Twenty-eight percent of the fatalities happened in manatee zones, no-wake zones, and other "restricted speed" zones. What kinds of boats were involved? Only 5% of the fatalities occurred on sailboats, which is one reason that I am partial to sailing. Twelve percent happened in canoes and rowboats, 31% of the accidents happened on jet skis, and 50% occurred in open motorboats.

Miami-Dade County led the state with 13 deaths. The Florida Keys, ranked No. 1 in the total number of accidents with 35. However, it had only 4 deaths. The Fish and Wildlife Commission ranks counties by the number of accidents, not the number of fatalities, and based upon that measure, the least safest counties in the State are:

10. Collier County (Naples)
9. Brevard County (Melbourne/Titusville)
8. Duval County (Jacksonville)
7. Volusia County (Daytona)
6. Lee County (Fort Myers)
5. Broward County (Fort Lauderdale)
4. Pinellas County (St. Petersburg/Clearwater)
3. Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach)
2. Miami-Dade County (Miami)
1. Monroe County (The Florida Keys)