Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
A large boat carrying four passengers caught fire off Egmont Key in St. Petersburg Sunday.
The passengers on board ended up in the water and were picked up by another boater.
According to the coast guard, it is unclear at this time what started the fire on the 42-foot Hatteras.
Spectators said that all you could see from the shore was huge plumes of black smoke.
The fire burned the boat to the waterline, and then it sank. Coast Guard officials have warned others in the area that it is a water hazard and all boaters should be careful.
The boat will have to be pulled from the water in order to determine how the fire started.
Tampa Bay is a wonderful place to live or vacation, with plentiful chances to enjoy many activities on the water. However, our rivers, lakes, streams, gulf and ocean offer ample opportunities for potential watercraft accidents, including those involving large or small boats, jet skis, sailboats, motorboats, charter vessels and collisions with decks and docks. The Tampa Bay Watercraft and Boating Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have the knowledge and experience needed to handle a wide range of watercraft accidents in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa and Sarasota.
There are many ways that boating accidents can occur, including:
• Negligent or inexperienced boat operators
• Collisions with other boats
• Capsized vessels
• Reckless boat driving
• Explosions or gasoline fires
• Falling overboard
Boat fires, collisions and jet ski accidents can result in serious personal injuries and even death. In many cases, alcohol plays a factor in the accident, and because many watercrafts are not outfitted with seat belts or extensive safety features, the aftermaths can be devastating.
Many parties can be responsible for boating accidents, including marinas, negligent boat operators, insurance companies and watercraft manufacturers. At Whittel & Melton, our personal injury lawyers regularly handle boating accident cases and can deal with any negligent parties so that you can focus your energies elsewhere. To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today at 727-847-2299. You can also reach us online by filling out our online contact form.
We know that after a boating accident you could be suffering from severe physical pain as well as emotional distress. You can feel confident in knowing that we will do everything in our power to eliminate any further stress or burdens. We offer house calls, office and hospital visits in addition to evening and weekend appointments, so contact us today to get the answers to your pertinent questions and begin moving forward with your injury claim.
We handle boating accident cases throughout Tampa Bay, in the communities of Carrollwood, Brandon, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Lutz , Ruskin, Valrico, Apollo Beach, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Tierra Verde, Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Pinellas Park, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg, Feather Sound, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Sarasota, Venice and Longboat Key.