Summertime Hazards on the Beach
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
Summertime is finally upon us, and with it, we have the hot Florida sun and the relaxing Florida beaches on the horizon. But before you pack your beach towel and sunscreen, there are a few summertime beach hazards you should be aware of because they can potentially cause injury which will ruin your fun day out.If you live in Florida, then you are probably one of many that find any and every excuse to escape to the beach for some much-needed sun and relaxation. However, your day of fun can quickly turn into a nightmare when you are involved in an accident either in or around the water.
Common Types of Accidents on the Beach
There are a few very common accidents that occur at the beach annually:
Drowning
Drowning or even near-drowning accidents are prevalent on Florida beaches. Even if you consider yourself a good swimmer, there is still a chance you can be faced with the possibility of this kind of accident while at the beach.
There are a few signs you should learn that can help you recognize if someone is in danger of drowning. You would think if you were drowning you would wave your arms and yell out for help. Well, it has been proven that this is not always possible in every case. A drowning person’s first instinct is to continue to breathe. This makes speech and other functions simply secondary. Additionally, the mouth of someone drowning is underwater, and when they are out of the water, it is usually only long enough to take a short breath before going under again.
If you see someone in the water and find that their head is lower, and their mouth is at water level, you should seek assistance. You may even be able to recognize them struggling to stay above water or struggling to take a breath.
Surfing
A common activity at the beach is surfing. However, it is not uncommon for even an experienced surfer to lose their balance or require assistance while in the water because they are too tired to help themselves, find themselves too far out, or maybe they even fell and hurt themselves on the board and cannot bring themselves back to shore without some help.
This goes for all sorts of other water sports, not just surfing. Jet skis, water surfing, boogie boarding- they can all result in injury if safety precautions are not taken. You can even experience serious cuts and lacerations from exposure to sharp rocks or even coral underwater or along the shoreline.
Causes of Beach Accidents
There are a few common causes of beach accidents, and some of these causes can be avoided if proper precautions are taken. Is there a lifeguard on duty while you are the beach? If so, were they doing their job properly and paying attention to what was going on?
If you find that you were involved in a beach accident that occurred when there was a lifeguard on duty, and there is proof that they were not doing their job when the injury happened, then you may be able to take legal action to obtain damages.
Additionally, if the beach had not been maintained and you sustained injuries as a result, then the beach owner may be liable for any damages that were incurred on the beach. This is applicable to private beaches where there is an owner that is responsible for cleaning and properly maintaining the beach. The same does not apply to a public beach.