Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A 24-year-old diving boat scheduled to be purposefully sunk for use as a coral reef held on a bit longer after it got stuck under a bridge in the Florida Panhandle.
The 75-foot vessel, a diving boat named the Nekton Rorqual, was being towed by a tugboat beneath the William T. Marler Bridge, a four-lane bridge in Destin, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Photos shared online of the vessel made it appear as though it were a perfect fit between the bridge pylons and commenters online drew comparisons to parallel parking. Officials said that as the boat was being towed, it got caught in the current, causing it to get stuck.
Officials reported no evidence of damage caused by the boat following the ordeal. It took about 15 minutes to maneuver the boat out from under the bridge. Authorities temporarily blocked traffic during this time while tugboat operators below attempted to free the vessel.
The boat was intentionally sunk at 5 p.m. Friday off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coastline to become the “Ted Forsgren Rorqual Reef,” a marine life habitat and attraction for divers.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but Leesfield & Partners attorneys know that is not always the case. The latest available data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows that the most common cause of reportable boating incidents in 2024 was a collision with a fixed object. Of the 685 reportable boating accidents for that year, 209 involved a crash with a fixed object. In all at least 81 people died and 400 others were injured in boating incidents for that year. More than half of the boaters involved in fatal collisions in 2024 had no formal boater’s education.
While these numbers highlight a broader safety issue across the state, they also represent real people with families and loved ones — underscoring the devastating cost of recklessness on the water.
Leesfield & Partners
With offices in Miami, Orlando and Key West, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have firsthand knowledge of just how dangerous the water can be, even without the risk of a collision with a fixed object. The data from the FWC demonstrate that hazards such as impaired boating, boating in low visibility and reckless boating are critical safety issues that must be addressed. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners, Ira Leesfield has seen the devastating toll these incidents have on families and has remained outspoken on the need for greater accountability across Florida waterways.
“The dangers from boating incidents are entirely underestimated as South Florida becomes more congested, drinking on the water becomes more prevalent and distractions from cell phones and other devices increases,” he said. “Important safety standards must be enforced on all watercrafts.”
For nearly five decades, Mr. Leesfield and the attorneys at Leesfield & Partners have been strong advocates for sober boating, life jacket use and other important safety practices to help prevent these tragedies.
On July 1, Lucy’s Law — named after high schooler Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez, who died in the 2022 Boca Chita boat crash — went into effect, imposing stricter penalties for boaters who flee the scene of a crash. In an article with iHeart Radio’s Joel Malkin, Partner Justin B. Shapiro said the changes were much needed.
“I think these are long overdue changes,” he said. “We have seen far too many fatalities and grievous injuries from boating crashes over the years.”
As these incidents continue to occur, taking with them precious lives and causing severe injuries, it is clear that more has to be done in order to ensure the safety of locals and tourists alike on the water.
“Florida is the boating capital of the world, but sadly, it is also the boating fatality capital of the world,” Mr. Shapiro said in a previous blog post from the firm. “There are no formal education or certification requirements for most boaters in Florida, leaving many grossly unqualified to navigate Florida’s unique and congested waterways.”
Leesfield & Partners is representing a 7-year-old girl and her family after a devastating sailboat-barge crash in Miami Beach that resulted in the devastating deaths of three other children. No case has been filed, and no legal action has been taken as the firm and the Areyan Gruber family await the U.S. Coast Guard’s findings.
“Many boaters are unfamiliar with the most basic navigation rules and actions necessary to avoid collisions in vessel traffic,” Mr. Shapiro said. “I look forward to the Coast Guard’s findings and hope the boating community can learn from this horrific incident.”
The firm has various boating injury cases in differing stages of the legal process.
Mr. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a teen who suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a water tubing accident.
Mr. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Eric Shane are representing a young girl who was enrolled in a South Florida summer camp when her leg was sliced by a boat propeller.
Previous Boating Cases
Previously, the firm secured a substantial settlement in a case involving a minor who lost a leg while not being supervised on a vessel.
The firm previously handled the case of a family whose young son was snorkeling when he was hit and killed by a passing boater. The boater in that case was also a minor who should never have been given permission to operate the vessel without supervision. Not only did this minor not stop, but he attempted to cover up evidence and lied to police when questioned.
Neighbors later testified that this minor regularly operated the boat in a reckless manner.
The firm represented the family of a young woman, 20, who tragically died when the vessel she was on crashed into a concrete dock. The firm secured over $1.3 million for the family when it was revealed that the boat operator had been drinking and speeding the night of the crash.
In a jet ski and boat crash, Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured $935,750 for their client.
In a boat case involving a foreign resort, the firm secured an $800,000 recovery for the injured client.
Another boating accident involving a negligent operator resulted in a $500,000 recovery.
In addition to boating accident litigation, Leesfield & Partners have represented the victims of various water-related accidents, including drownings, jet ski crashes, parasailing, and other recreational activities.
The firm represented the widow of a man who drowned while on a boat tour at the Dry Tortugas National Park. The company’s tour guides instructed the man where he should go to snorkel and, within minutes, his body was found unresponsive.
The firm secured a six-figure recovery in that case.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Leesfield & Partners Trial Attorney, represented the family of a young man and father-to-be who was lobster diving when he was killed by a law enforcement officer who negligently failed to adhere to divers-down flag laws.
If you were injured in a boating accident in Florida, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partner attorney at 305-854-4900 today to see if you may be eligible for compensation.
