The owner of a Bristol, Rhode Island speedboat manufacturing company was fatally injured in one of his company’s boats in the Florida Keys in early November. Joseph Sgro, 63, the owner of Rhode Island-based speedboat manufacturer Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats, died the day after his boat flipped over during a trip from Miami to Key West for the Florida Powerboat Club’s annual poker run according to a report from Newsday. Sgro was originally airlifted to Jackson South Hospital in Miami via air ambulance but ultimately did not survive his injuries. Four passengers were aboard the boat at the time it capsized, and all four had to release their seatbelts in order to escape from the boat when it flipped over. Two of the four other individuals on board the boat at the time it submerged approximately half a mile from the shore were injured, one of whom was thrown from the boat and was treated for a broken shoulder blade, a bruised rib cage, and water in his lungs. One of the injured passengers said the boat was not traveling fast when it rolled over, also adding he was unsure of the actual cause of the crash.
The Law Related to Boating Accidents in Florida
From the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, Florida can be a great place to enjoy a boat ride. Fort Lauderdale bills itself as the Boating Capital of the World, while Key West holds multiple boating festivals every year. Florida’s waterways can also be dangerous for boaters. Speeding, reckless operation of boats by careless boaters, alcohol use and bad weather can all lead to serious accidents and injuries. Florida law requires boat operators to take certain precautions to keep themselves and their passengers safe. If you’re injured due to someone else’s negligence in the operation of a boat, that person may be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages and/or the costs of future medical treatment.
Contact Lytal Reiter if You or a Loved One Have Been Injured in a Boating Accident
The Florida boating accident lawyers at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath understand the seriousness of boating safety and have extensive experience handling injury claims for those who have been injured in a boating accident. If you have been injured in a boating accident in Florida, contact the experienced lawyers at our firm today at (561) 655-1990 for a free consultation regarding your situation today.
