Boat Capsizes off of Miami Coast, Several Dead

Four women have died and 11 have been arrested after a boat with more than a dozen people on board capsized early Wednesday in the waters off of South Florida. According to reports from the U.S. Coast Guard, the incident happened just before 1:00 a.m. when one of the survivors on the boat dialed 911. Passengers on the boat included Haitians and Jamaicans. Rescuers found four adult females underneath the boat who had died after the boat had overturned. U.S. Coast Guard Commander Darren Caprar said that most were clinging to the hull of the small craft and another was found in an air pocket underneath the boat. One of the survivors of the incident was transported by boat to Miami Beach, where he was treated at a hospital and released to federal law enforcement. The remaining survivors are listed in good condition and have also been taken into custody aboard a Coast Guard vessel while authorities continue to investigate if they were possibly a part of a human smuggling operation. Authorities have not said whether the survivors may be brought to the U.S. or repatriated to their home countries. Since the boat was overloaded with people and there were no life jackets, it created a dangerous situation. Boat accidents don’t happen just from collisions. Too many people in the boat can easily make it tip, and without jackets even experienced swimmers can only last so long. Always make sure there are enough life jackets for everyone on board and wear them! If you or a loved one have been involved in a boating accident, having good legal representation as soon as possible can make all the difference in how your case gets settled. Give our offices a call. We will discuss with you the specifics of your accident. Our firm has the resources to hire the experts and investigators that will to build a strong case so that you are able to recover compensation for your injuries, your pain and suffering and see that justice is served. We are just a phone call away and your initial consultation is without charge.