A scuba accident in Pompano Beach off the Hillsboro Inlet killed one woman on Thanksgiving Day, according to CBS Miami.
The 54-year-old woman was in town from New Mexico with her nephew when the accident happened, reports the Broward Sheriff’s Office. It all happened when the victim and the rest of the group was heading back to shore from a dive outing. The catamaran, The Coral Princess, flipped over. Witnesses say the vessel was caught from behind by an 8 or 10 feet wave that flipped it over.
“They just went on this fun trip together to just do dives,” said Dani Moscehlla, a spokeswoman with the sheriff’s office. “So this is especially tragic that it was on Thanksgiving and it ended in tragedy.”
Our Palm Beach scuba accident attorneys understand that dive operators have an obligation to keep customers safe. This counts when dealing with boating, scuba diving, jet skiing and even parasailing. These companies need to take all of the proper safety precautions to keep you safe!
According to the owner of the boat, with the South Florida Diving Headquarters, the crew is spending their time helping the victims to recover.
The accident is still being investigated by officials.
While the company is “doing all they can” to assist those affected by this catastrophic accident, it’s easy to see that this same “can-do” philosophy should have been applied before the boat ever left shore. It’s important for these owners to make sure that all of their equipment is up-to-date and safe, that their employees are thoroughly trained in the duties they’re executing and that all of the safety devices needed for such a voyage are provided to the customers.
In 2009, there were close to 3,500 people who were injured and another 750 who were killed in boating accidents in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The same goes for activities like scuba diving. Companies are required to make sure that all equipment is safe and operational while also making sure that all workers are properly trained and certified. The truth of the matter is that scuba fatalities are oftentimes completely preventable. It just takes a little awareness to keep them from happening.
The top three root causes leading to diver fatalities:
-Pre-existing disease or pathology in the diver.
-Poor buoyancy control.
-Rapid ascent/ violent water movement.
Before choosing a company to dive with, make sure you do you research. Check out their background. Take a look at accident reports, look into the maintenance of their equipment and check out the credentials of their employees. It’s a move that could prevent a potentially catastrophic accident.
The accident lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC represent victims or boating, scuba diving, parasailing and other such accidents. Give us a call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Boating Accidents in Palm Beach Target of New Watercraft Ban, State Not Happy!, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, May 5, 2012