Boat Accident

A tragic boat accident in New York took the life of a young mother and her infant daughter on August 8, 2026. The incident took place when a 22-foot Yamaha speedboat capsized close to Liberty Island in New York Harbor. There were 14 people aboard the boat. Twelve were rescued, but 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and…

On the afternoon of May 9, a reported boat explosion in Miami-Dade County severely injured several on board. The boat, a charter vessel in Biscayne Bay close to the Haulover Sandbar, sent multiple people to local hospitals. Boating accidents are not a new phenomenon in the Sunshine State. This recent incident serves as yet another…

Around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, a boat lost control in Biscayne Bay and killed 33-year-old Claudia Balmaseda Orellanes of Coral Gables. The driver of the 27-foot boat the victim was traveling in was 54-year-old Neil D. Schwabe from Coconut Grove. Schwabe and Balmaseda Orellanes were near the Nixon Beach Sandbar when they…

In 2024, nearly 400 Floridians were injured in boating accidents, amounting to an average injury rate of 39 per 100,000 registered vessels. While boating might be a fun pastime for Sunshine State residents of all ages, it’s important to recognize the very real risks associated with this popular activity. Whether you’re cruising down one of…

Any boat accident or crash in “navigable waters” is governed by maritime law. “Navigable waters” is almost everything in Florida outside of a small inland bound lake. “Navigable waters” is any body of water which is capable of commercial activity. That includes all of the canals which go out to a bay or gulf, any…

Boating accidents which happen in any navigable water are governed by maritime law.  So call a maritime specialist who is also a trial lawyer. As of April 2026, authorities have made multiple arrests in separate hit-and-run cases, including a jet ski collision near Miami Marine Stadium and a fatal hit-and-run in Miami Beach. These two…

On the evening of March 25, 2026, a vessel described as a large 40-43-foot four-engine cabin cruiser struck a 7-foot inflatable dinghy carrying a father and his 14-year-old son in Meloy Channel, Biscayne Bay, near Miami Beach. The larger vessel fled the scene after the impact. The two occupants of the inflatable dinghy were rushed…

Another heartbreaking accident off the coast of Florida occurred this week. A 13-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister were both on a personal watercraft when they collided with a seawall. The younger sister died from her injuries. The 16-year-old is still in the hospital. This entirely preventable tragedy demands accountability. What happened: The August 12…

A devastating boat explosion occurred near New River Triangle in Fort Lauderdale over Memorial Day. The recreational vessel had 15 people aboard at the time, and 11 sustained serious injuries. Children were among those harmed. The exact cause of this incident is not yet known. Background on the boat explosion The incident took place on…

A deadly boat crash took place over the weekend close to the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. According to early reports, a recreational powerboat traveling at high speeds struck a Clearwater Ferry, leading to multiple severe injuries and one fatality. The tragic crash shows how horribly things can go wrong when a boat operator is negligent or…

On December 13, two airboats collided in Collier County, injuring at least 24 people and sending 16 to the hospital. Per 7 News Miami: Multiple agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, responded to the scene of the crash south of U.S. 41 East at Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours, Friday afternoon. “Looks like…

Seriously injured in a boating accident?  If so, you need a lawyer.  But you need a specialist.  Why?  Because this area of the law is highly specialized.  Maritime law applies if the accident involved a small boat, large boat, yacht, cruise ship, jet ski, and any other “vessel” which was in any “navigable water”. And…

Norris Cut is a waterway located in Florida, acting as a natural passage between Fisher Island and Virginia Key. Located just south of the main channel that leads into the Port of Miami, Norris Cut has a rich history and plays an important role in the area’s infrastructure. Geologically, Norris Cut is a relatively young…

Baker’s Haulover Inlet is a popular inlet located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway and sits between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach. The inlet is known for its strong currents and can be challenging to navigate, especially during high tide or rough weather conditions. It’s a popular…

Haulover Inlet is a popular inlet located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway and separates the barrier island of Bal Harbour from the mainland. The inlet is renowned for its strong currents and is a favorite spot for many for boating, fishing, and water sports. It’s also known…

Government Cut inlet in Miami is an important maritime artery, serving as the primary access point to the bustling Port of Miami. Carved through the barrier islands of Miami Beach, this man-made channel connects the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the waters of Biscayne Bay. Its strategic location not only facilitates the smooth…

NBC reports that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has identified the hit-and-run boater who fatally struck a 15-year-old girl in Biscayne Bay this past weekend. Carlos Guillermo Alonso of Coral Gables was, apparently, the only person on the vessel at the time. Per NBC News,  the Commission’s “one-page report lists Alonso as the…

Hickey Law Firm announces it has filed a lawsuit in connection with the Thriller speedboat collision that happened on February 11, 2024 off of Port Miami. The collision injured 29 and sent 13 to the hospital. The Thriller speedboat and a charter vehicle collided close to 3:15pm. One of the boats involved was Thriller Miami…

Hickey Law Firm has filed lawsuit on behalf of a woman who suffered head trauma and a traumatic brain injury in a boat collision. Stephanie Camarato and her husband, Matthew, were both on the Thriller Miami tour boat when a charter boat hit the tour boat. Stephanie is still be treated for her injuries. We…

Nearly 30 people are recovering from injuries sustained after a tour boat collided with a private vessel on Sunday near Port Miami. The crash sent 13 people to the hospital, with another 16 sustaining injuries. No fatalities were reported, but the extent of the victims’ injuries is unclear as of Monday. Per CBS News: Around…

Cruise ships cannot dock at certain ports. That is because the port channel and basin are too shallow or the pier and the cleats and other structures on the pier are too small to handle massive cruise ships. At these ports, the cruise ships anchor outside the immediate port waters. The cruise ship uses its…