And those costs are going up.
Florida is a boater’s paradise. But mistakes come at a high cost.
A new study shows the Sunshine State has the third-highest costs of any state when it comes to boating property damage. The analysis was conducted by Steve Gimblin Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers.
The findings concluded that Florida racked up $74.7 million in boating property damage between 2020 and 2024. That figure accounted for more than 22% of the total amount of property damage associated with boating accidents in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, that’s more than any other state.
Florida’s year-over-year damage grew by 75.3% in the half-decade. And the state posted the highest total property damage amount associated with boating accidents in every year of the study.
The study looked at U.S. Coast Guard property damage in boating incidents from all 50 states to develop a composite vessel risk score. The key factor on ranking the states was per-capita damage rates.
Florida posted $63,923 in boating damage per 100,000 people in the state. That amounted to a total boating risk score of 68.4.
But Florida’s risk score was behind South Carolina’s figure of 75.2 and Maryland’s score of 68.9.
Florida’s dominance in boating mishaps and associated costs is unparalleled and is likely to increase, said Steve Gimblin, founder of the law firm.
“Florida’s dominance in boating property damage isn’t just about more boats on the water — it reflects a growing gap between activity and safety. A 75% surge in costs over five years signals that accidents are becoming more frequent, more severe, or both. Without stronger enforcement and better awareness, the financial impact on boaters and businesses will continue to escalate,” Gimblin said in a news release.
The law firm advised that boating accidents have many costs that most people don’t consider. The financial consequences begin with initial property damage, but extend to repair, replacement, legal liability, increasing insurance, and medical and lost employment expenses.
