If you’re going out on someone’s boat, you should be able to count on that boat to have the necessary safety equipment aboard. That includes personal flotation devices (PFDs) – often known as life jackets.
There needs to be enough PFDs for everyone on board. Further, they need to be the appropriate sizes and in good condition. Florida law has a number of specifications regarding PFDs for both boats and personal watercraft (PWC) like jet skis.
What does Florida law say about PFDs?
All boats on Florida waters must be equipped with enough personal flotation devices (PFD) for each person on board. These must be U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved. They must also be wearable. That means they need to be the right size for the passengers. If there are three adults and two children aboard, five adult PFDs don’t meet the legal requirements.
Children under six years old are required to wear an approved PFD if they’re on a vessel that’s smaller than 26 feet long. Again, these need to be the appropriate size. An adult-size PFD can slip right off a child – offering them little or no protection.
If a vessel is at least 16 feet long, it must also have a USCG-approved “throwable device” or life preserver on board. It must be easily accessible.
Anyone can drown without a flotation device
The law doesn’t actually require adults to wear a PFD on a boat. It’s certainly a good idea, however. You never know when the boat could capsize, be in a collision or someone could fall overboard. When people are on or being towed by a PWC, however, they must wear an approved life jacket.
Even young, healthy people who know how to swim have drowned after falling overboard without a PFD. For example, in 2020, actress Naya Rivera, who is best known for her role on the television show Glee, lost her life this way in a lake. It was determined that she likely became disoriented in the water due to a combination of vertigo and her medications.
It’s important to know about these and other safety requirements not only as a boat or PWC owner but if you’re a guest on someone else’s vessel. If someone suffers harm or worse due to a lack of appropriate floating devices, it may be possible to hold the owner liable for medical bills and other expenses and damages. With experienced legal guidance, you improve your chances of getting justice and fair compensation.