A boat accident Sunday evening killed five and injured at least seven people on the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville, Florida. Authorities say the 22-foot boat was carrying between 12 and 14 people when it hit a tugboat that was tied to a dock under construction at a home along the waterway.

The victims are all in their 20s, but beyond asking who they are, the authorities would also like to know why there were 14 people on a 22-foot boat, were they wearing life vests, was alcohol involved, and how fast was the boat going when it hit the tugboat.

Florida has more registered recreation vessels than any other state, nearly 987,000 of them. They have over a million registered vessels total. In 2007, there were just under 668 accidents reported. This number has been virtually stagnant for the last few years. However, this may also be due to a change in the way boating accidents are reported in 2003. Instead of requiring a report if the damage exceeds $500, the damage must now exceed $2000. So, perhaps it isn’t that accidents are getting fewer; it’s that more accidents do not meet this threshold.

Boating accidents occur many times a year all over the country. While boats are obviously different in many ways from other vehicles, the same kinds of things cause accidents. Speed, alcohol, level of experience, and more contribute to all accidents investigated equally.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.