Tampa Bay Personal Injury Law Blog

Be alert and avoid a boating accident this weekend during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. On Saturday, Tampa Bay-area residents join in an unusual celebration, one that marks the beginning of a new year as well as a reminder of times long ago. The Gasparilla Pirate Festival was named in honor of the pirate Jose “Gasparilla” Gaspar, who is said to have terrorized Florida’s west coast during the late 18th century and early 19th century. Tomorrow, the city of Tampa is “invaded” by Gasparilla and his men when the motley crew arrives in downtown Tampa on a 165-foot pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla. The mayor of Tampa relinquishes the key to the city to the pirate captain and a victory parade gets underway through the city’s streets.

The event is a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous if you don’t take steps to protect yourself while on a boat. Here are a few tips:

• Have a designated driver. According to Florida law, by operating any vessel on Florida waters you have consented to be tested for the presence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances, if requested to do so by a peace officer. Refusal to submit to testing is punishable by a civil penalty of $500 and is a crime if you were fined for a previous refusal.
• Have enough personal flotation devices for everyone on board.
• Watch your speed and post a lookout for other boats.
• Don’t overload your boat and have all of the necessary safety equipment (fire extinguisher, etc.) in working order.
• File a float plan with friends or family and have a working VHF radio on board.
• Give your passengers a safety talk so they know what to do in case of an emergency.

About 40 law enforcement vessels will be on the water, including boats from the Coast Guard, Tampa Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Hillsborough County and Pinellas County sheriff’s offices.

Enjoy yourself during Gasparilla, but watch out for those who party too hard and then try to drive a boat. It could result in its own personal invasion — invasion of doctors, lawyers, medical bills, insurance companies, etc.

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If you or a loved one are injured in a boating accident, click here to contact the attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes, P.A. Our Tampa Bay personal injury law firm has been caring for clients since 1955. Let our experience and dedication to the community work for you. Insurance companies have attorneys looking out for them, so should you! Email us or call us today at 727-796-8282 for a free case consultation.

Unfortunately, you don’t get to choose who causes your car accident. You or your family member could easily be injured in a crash caused by a driver like the 26-year-old Clearwater woman who was driving her white Ford Mustang the wrong way down Florida Avenue N in Tampa last night.  According to the Tampa Bay Times, when she was pulled over, she had an open beer can between her legs and a little boy in the back seat. Her response to police? “I’m not doing sh–,” she told police.

This is this lady’s third arrest for driving under the influence and the third time she has refused to submit to a breath test, police say. Do you really think she had car insurance that would protect you and your family if she caused an automobile accident with you?  Drivers like this woman and other drivers that simply cannot afford bodily injury liability coverage (not required in Florida) cause crashes every day. That is why you and your family must carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy. If this woman or any person causes you or your family member injuries in a car accident, your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will protect you. Otherwise, you may have no recourse for unpaid medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

The attorneys at the personal injury law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes strongly recommend that you check your car insurance policy today and make sure you are protecting your family with stacked uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Without it, your life could be forever changed due to a car accident that wasn’t even your fault.

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Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes, P.A. have been fighting for clients after car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bus accidents, and other types of accidents since 1955. Insurance companies have attorneys looking out for their best interest, so should you! Click here for a free case consultation with an attorney at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes.