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A Fort Myers boat accident attorney said that in July 2020, WINK News reported two women formed a bond after both were tragically struck by boat propellers. Emily suffered a boat accident injury two years ago on Fort Myers Beach and needed to learn to walk again. Sue was injured on Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel in July. Hearing of Sue’s story, Emily decided to be a voice of support for trauma victims like Sue.

“I just wanted to reach out to her to be like, ‘There’s another person that lived it,’” Emily said. “My life is coming back together in a moment where she probably feels like it’s crashing in front of her.”

“It means a lot because right now I can’t walk,” Sue said. “I can’t do anything.”

There were 171 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. These accidents resulted in 35 deaths and 155 injuries, reported Homeland Security, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

BoatSafe.com says operators and passengers should be aware that propellers are dangerous. A typical three-blade boat propeller runs at 3,200 rpm and can inflict 160 strikes in one second.

To prevent propeller accidents, Boat-ed.com recommends the following:

• Turn off the engine when passengers are boarding or disembarking. Propellers should not be spinning when a passenger is in a vulnerable situation.

• Prevent passengers from being thrown overboard accidentally.
• Never start a boat with the engine in gear.
• Never ride on a seat back, gunwale, transom, or bow.
• Make sure all passengers are seated properly before getting underway. Some operators cause injuries by putting the engine in gear while people are still swimming or diving from the boat.
• Assign a responsible adult to watch any children in the boat and sound the alarm if a child falls overboard.

• Maintain a proper lookout for people in the water. The primary cause of propeller strike accidents is operator inattention or carelessness.
• Slow down when approaching congested areas and anchorages. In congested areas, always be alert for swimmers and divers.
• Learn to recognize warning buoys that mark swimming and other hazardous areas.
• Keep the boat away from marked swimming and diving areas. Become familiar with the red flag with a white diagonal stripe and the blue-and-white “Alfa” flag—both signal that divers are down.

Fort Myers Boat Accident Attorney Randall Spivey recommends that engines be off and keys should be out of the ignition anytime people are getting in or out of the water.

“If you or a loved one is injured in an accident, contact an experienced boat accident lawyer at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. after seeking medical attention. We are available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Boat Accident Attorney Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Boat Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.