Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating accidents are on the rise. They can cause the same types of injuries as car accidents. Those involved may endure severe burns, broken bones and brain damage. The rate of fatal accidents is also, sadly, on the rise. Boating accidents bring their own set of dangers, including lacerations caused by propellers and hyperthermia suffered while in the water.
Just like car accidents, boating accidents that result from negligence can turn into criminal proceedings for the person at fault. A boater named John Deselms was recently charged with first-degree manslaughter for a May boating accident that left two people dead. He has since posted bond and been released.
Deselms has nearly 1,000 hours of boat driving experience. With so much time on the water, what could have caused him to drive 25 mph into the lower deck of a docked houseboat? According to News On 6, preliminary reports indicate that Deselms’ blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. He admitted to police that he drank 10 beers, had a shot of liquor and took prescription pills.