Boat Identified in Fatal Biscayne Bay Hit-and-Run That Killed Miami Father, Injured Son
Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has located the cabin cruiser. However, they have not yet released information about the vessel’s owner or operator.
A tragic loss for a Miami family and community
According to reports, the victim, Davide Veglia, is the founder and CEO of ABTS Convention Services. He built the North Bay Village-based company to serve international medical professionals traveling for conferences.
Between approximately 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25th, the vessel carrying Veglia and his son was struck, and both were transported to the Ryder Trauma Center. Tragically, Veglia later died as a result of his injuries.
Leaving the scene of a boat crash is a crime
Under the General Maritime Law and under Florida law, boat operators are required to stop after a collision, render aid when possible, and provide identifying information. Because this crash occurred on navigable waters, federal maritime law applies to any claims.
Failing to stop following a boat crash is similar to committing a hit-and-run on the road. Fleeing the scene can result in felony charges, especially in crashes that result in death. In this case, reports state that after striking the small dinghy, the larger vessel continued north.
What causes hit-and-run boat collisions?
This collision between this four outboard engine, fast and heavy boat and the dinghy happened in what was most likely a slow speed zone. In any area within 1,000 feet of any land mass in Miami-Dade County boats are supposed to go so slow that they don’t even create a wake. Here, the fast boat may have been on a plane which means he may have been significantly over the speed limit.
Navigational Rule 5 requires that all boats maintain a proper lookout. The 4 outboard, 40 + foot boat must not have maintained any lookout. And he may have been speeding. And he was cruising like this at dusk.
Boat operators need to exercise a certain level of skill and competence and avoid negligent risk-taking behaviors that may injure another person. Some causes of a boat crash may include:
- Operator inattention or improper lookout
- Excessive speed (especially at dusk or after dark when visibility is lower)
- Poor visibility or failure to use navigation lights
- Alcohol or drug impairment (boating under the influence)
- Lack of boating education or experience
- Failure to follow maritime navigation rules that determine things like speed, distance from other boats and right-of-way
In this case, the crash involved a large, powerful vessel and a small dinghy. Visibility and lookout are critical for avoiding such tragedies. But it’s not yet clear what led or contributed to this collision.
Collisions between large boats and small vessels
If a larger boat fails to keep a careful lookout and neglects to see a smaller vessel in the water, the results can be catastrophic, even at moderate speeds. The occupants of the smaller vessel may be ejected into water, suffer severe blunt force trauma, and are at risk of drowning.
Maritime law applies to this case
Biscayne Bay qualifies as navigable waters so federal maritime law applies. That means there are different legal standards from those in Florida state law, but it still gives the family of the victims potential claims, including negligence against the operator of the 40 + foot boat. The negligence most likely includes the failure to maintain a proper lookout, failure to maintain proper speed, and failure to return to the scene and render aid. There are both a wrongful death claim here for the estate of the decedent and for the “survivors” and a personal injury claim for the child who was injured.
The Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 states that the vessel owner may seek to limit their monetary exposure to the value of their vessel (in certain specific circumstances). But if the owner is also the operator of the vessel or is onboard the vessel at the time of the negligence, the “knowledge or privity” exception to limitation applies.
Victims and their loved ones need to contact a maritime law specialist. At Hickey Law Firm, our team of maritime lawyers knows how to handle these types of claims. We’re ready to fight for those who’ve suffered harm in boat accidents because of negligence on the water.
Who can be held liable in a boating hit-and-run?
The primary liable party is often the boat operator. However, others may share fault, including the vessel owner (if different from the operator), the employer or company (if commercial use), and the manufacturer of the boat if a defect contributed to the incident.
Boating accidents are a safety issue in Florida
Florida consistently reports among the highest numbers of boating accidents in the nation. Operator inattention and improper lookout are among the most common causes. Many fatal incidents involve a boat operator who lacks proper boating education and a lack of personal flotation devices.
Legal options for families after a fatal boating accident
Following a deadly boat crash, the family may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral costs
- Loss of income
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of support and services
- Loss of future earnings
Injury claims for survivors are also possible, and may allow for the recovery of medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
These cases are especially complex and time-sensitive under maritime law.
Why maritime experience matters
Maritime law does not involve the same laws, requirements, and processes as standard personal injury law. As a result, families involved in these complicated claims must find a legal representative who has in-depth knowledge of the relevant federal statutes, experience in vessel liability, and who understands the strict limitations on these actions. At Hickey Law Firm, our founding attorney, Jack Hickey, is triple Board Certified, including in Admiralty & Maritime Law. He has extensive experience handling catastrophic boat injury claims. If you’ve been injured or lost someone in a boat crash, you want us on your side.
Contact a Miami boat accident lawyer
At Hickey Law Firm, all of our attorneys specialize in maritime injury law. We’re prepared to fight for you from day one. We represent boat crash victims and their loved ones on a contingency basis, which means we don’t recover attorney fees unless we win your case. Call us today or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation with one of our dedicated maritime law attorneys. When the stakes are high, people choose Hickey Law Firm.
Attorney John H. (Jack) Hickey and his team handle a wide range of cases, including but not limited to cruise ship accidents, admiralty and maritime accident cases, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability, railroad accidents and car accidents. We represent victims from all over the nation, the world and the state of Florida.
Read more about how Jack Hickey can help you.