NEWS: Five Lobster Hunters Saved from Sinking Boat in Marathon

By Jack Hickey | November 15, 2023

Boaters and passengers who intend to go out on the water deserve to be safe. Hickey Law Firm can help when someone else’s negligence causes your injuries.

  • Make sure everyone has access to a well-maintained Personal Flotation Device (PFD). These are life jackets. They should be easily reachable, not stored in locked compartments.
  • Keep a functional fire extinguisher on board.
  • Must have working lights and a Sound Producing Device, like a bell or a horn. You should also have a radio.
  • Don’t drink and operate a boat.
  • Pay attention to the weather. Don’t go out in bad weather.
  • Operators must pay attention to their surroundings.
  • The bilge should be clean.
  • Keep a first aid kit on the boat.

Every boat owner should seriously consider undergoing a Vessel Safety Check. Offered by the local Coast Guard Auxiliary, this free assessment ensures your vessel complies with federal and local safety standards. Importantly, this check isn’t related to law enforcement, so no citations are issued for any discrepancies found. Instead, the examiner assesses the vessel’s current condition and provides guidance on enhancing safety measures.

For all vessel owners and those engaging in regular boating, enrolling in a boating safety course is strongly recommended. Numerous courses are available at minimal or no cost through the local Coast Guard Auxiliary, helping you gain valuable knowledge to ensure safe boating practices.

The Miami Herald has reported that Florida Keys Sheriff Rick Ramsay was driving near the Old Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon when he spotted a sinking boat with five men on board. The men were participating in the final day of the two-day lobster mini-season and had a dive flag on their vessel. Ramsay called 911 to report the distress, prompting Monroe County Deputy Willie Guerra, a marine patrol deputy, to arrive at the scene within a minute. Guerra brought all the men onto his patrol vessel, and fortunately, no injuries were reported. Ramsay expressed his satisfaction with the successful teamwork between the Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Hickey Law Firm specializes in “life changing injuries”®. Call us first. Call us now. 800.215.7117

Florida boat accidents don’t always end so well. Many end with injuries and even fatalities. Hickey Law Firm knows what to do when you have been injured on a boat. We are specialists in these laws – Maritime law and injury law. John H. (Jack) Hickey is double Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Admiralty and Maritime Law and in Civil Trial Law. He is also Board Certified in Civil Trial by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes Hickey in three areas: Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs.

When you are seriously injured, you want us. We specialize in life changing injury cases: spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, rapes and sexual assault, orthopedic injuries with surgeries, nerve injuries, RSD/CRPS, and central pain syndrome.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today. We will lead you on the journey to justice. We will show you the way. We will explain the process, what we have done, and what we will do. Take our hand and walk with us. We have a team ready for you now. Reach out to us by phone at our Miami office or through our contact form today. Proudly serving people throughout Florida.

Posted in Boat Accident