Was the Operator Intoxicated?
A surprisingly high number of boating and water vessel accidents are caused by alcohol. Whether you were injured by a drunk jet ski driver, an intoxicated fishing boat captain, or a drunk cruise ship employee, your injuries may be compensable under a personal injury claim. Call a Miami maritime accident attorney to get started on recovering your damages today.
Drunk Cruise Ship Employee
While there are plenty of stories involving drunk cruise ship guests falling overboard, tripping down stairs, or being raped by other predatory guests or employees, cruise ship employees are also known to have a few too many. After all, it has become increasingly accepted that the captain of the Titanic was drunk at the time the ship hit the infamous iceberg, sending thousands to their swift and icy deaths, as reported in numerous news sources, including The Sun. Cruise ship employees, depending on their specific occupations, are responsible for providing assistance to guests. When an employee is intoxicated it means that they cannot perform these duties safely and effectively. Whether they are responsible for attending to the ship’s machinery or equipment, in charge of food preparation or cleaning rooms, navigation, repair, or rigging, cruise ship employees and staff have a duty to the safety of those who depend upon them. If you were injured in any way due to the intoxication of any cruise ship employee, it may be possible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the cruise ship company.
FWC to Increase Operations in Coming Weeks, Months
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), according to Greene Publishing, Inc., will be increasing their alcohol awareness this summer during Operation Dry Water from June 30 through the Fourth of July holiday. Their mission is to crack down on intoxicated water vessel operation and reduce the number of tragic deaths and injuries that plague the state during the summer months of boating. “A big part of enjoying Florida’s beautiful waterways is doing so safely and responsibly. It is our job as law enforcement officers to identify and remove impaired boaters from the water so that everyone else can continue to have an enjoyable boating season,” asserted Major Robert Rowe. Twenty-four percent of water vessel fatalities were related to drug or alcohol use in 2016. Alcohol impairs the operator’s reaction time, decision making ability, coordination, and sight–all important things for being able to safely navigate Florida’s lakes, rivers, and oceans. As with driving, it is illegal to operate a boat in Florida with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more.
Call to Schedule a Free Consultation With a Miami Maritime Lawyer Today
If you have sufficient reason to believe that alcohol was involved in your or your loved one’s water vessel or cruise ship injury, we advise you to take action swiftly by calling an attorney at once. Contact one of our experienced Miami maritime lawyers today with the law firm of Michael F. Guilford, P.A. at 305-359-1999. The compensation that we may help you acquire can go a long way to curing your substantial physical and emotional injuries.
Resources:
thesun.co.uk/archives/news/434978/titanic-captain-drunk-when-ship-hit-iceberg/
greenepublishing.com/fwc-law-enforcement-to-participate-in-operation-dry-water-national-effort-against-boating-under-the-influence/