Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Footage of a boat explosion that killed one man and injured five others has gone viral online, with witnesses telling reporters the vessel exploded while it was refueled.
The incident happened Monday, just days before the holidays, around 6 p.m. at the Lauderdale marina, according to reporting from the Miami Herald. At least one other boat caught fire in the incident. The explosion took place near the 15th Street Fisheries, a nearby restaurant that frequently attracts tourists and boaters alike.
At least three of the five people who were hurt had traumatic injuries. The body of Sebastien Gauthier, 41, of Quebec, Canada, was found in the water by officials with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Monday night.
The explosion is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Leesfield & Partners
Florida has been regularly dubbed the boating capital of the world with over a million registered vessels belonging to tourists and locals alike. With offices in Key West, Miami and Orlando, Leesfield & Partners has handled hundreds of boating injury cases over 48 years of practice. In that time, the firm has successfully litigated cases involving negligent boaters and corporations responsible for clients’ injuries.
In addition to boating, the firm has a long history of litigating injuries acquired in a myriad of recreational water activities such as jet ski crashes and snorkeling, parasailing and scuba diving incidents. The firm’s success in these areas has made it among the nation’s leading personal injury firms. Leesfield & Partners has been regularly recognized nationally for its work and has secured record and leading verdicts and settlements throughout Florida.
Previously, the firm obtained a large award in a case involving an explosion on a commercial boat that took place when a spark on board from the vessel’s portable gas pump ignited ammonium nitrate, fertilizer and gasoline. This occurred as the vessel’s cargo was being off-loaded. The result was catastrophic and resulted in the death of at least one person and severe burns to others. In an investigation of the incident, Leesfield & partners’ attorneys found that the vessel was unseaworthy, and its crew was inadequately trained.
The firm also handled the case of a Cape Coral man injured in an explosion at his home. The defendant in that case was a cleaning company whose employee left the man’s house in a rush, allowing a knob of the propane gas grill on the patio that was being cleaned to remain on. The gas built up, resulting in the explosion.
Leesfield & Partners recovered the maximum insurance policy amount of $2 million for the man in that case.
In another case, the lives of a couple were forever changed when a gas line exploded in their hotel room. The two were celebrating their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic at the time. Both husband and wife were horrifically burned in the incident with the wife eventually succumbing to her injuries.
A case in which a company was liable for a fatal fire, Leesfield & Partners obtained a $600,000 result.
In a boating case that caused a minor to lose a leg, Leesfield & Partners recovered a substantial settlement for the negligent supervision of boating activities.
The firm previously represented a family whose 209-year-old daughter died after the boat she was on collided into a concrete dock. It was later discovered that the operator of the boat in that tragic case was drinking and speeding at night.
Over $1.3 million was secured for the family in that case.
A family who lost their son because of the negligent boating of another minor received $1.7 million. Not only did the boy who was driving the boat not stop when he hit our client’s son in the water, but he attempted to hide evidence from and lie to police when questioned. Neighbors later testified that he was known to regularly operate the boat in a reckless manner.
Over the last six years, Justin B. Shapiro, a Partner and Trial Lawyer at the firm, has secured more than $10 million for clients injured in jet ski crashes. This recreational water activity has proved to be the most dangerous, producing more injuries and fatalities than any other water-related practice area handled by the firm.
A previous case involving a Californian family on vacation in Florida shows the importance of responsible jet ski rental companies and the severe consequences when these companies fail their customers. I that case, the family hired jet ski tour guides, who were supposed to lead them through the waters and assist with operating the machinery. However, the guides repeatedly sped away from the family and failed to warn them about the strong currents around a narrow bridge opening.
As a result, our client violently crashed into a concrete bridge piling and was severely injured.
In a parasailing case, involving a mother and daughter who were vacationing on a cruise ship when they purchased the excursion, Leesfield & Partners secured $7.25 million for the grieving family. What should have been a lasting memory for the two ended in tragedy when a rope connected to the boat towing them suddenly snapped because of high winds. The two fell rapidly from the sky, causing catastrophic injuries to the daughter. The mother was killed in the incident.
