California residents may have heard about a casino boat fire in Florida that resulted in the death of a 42-year-old woman. While she and 49 other people on board made it back to shore, the woman eventually sought treatment at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point where she later died. Authorities say that she was one of 15 people who sought treatment in the aftermath of the fire.
To get off the boat, travelers had to jump into waist-deep water on a chilly day. A representative of Tropical Breeze Casino said that it was not clear what caused the fire. The statement also claimed that there had never been an issue with the boat previously. An officer with the Coast Guard said that an investigation was ongoing and that the cause of the blaze was unclear. However, police said that the boat was having engine problems shortly after it left Port Richey.
If property owners fail to fix dangerous conditions on their premises, they may be liable for damages that victims incur. If a person dies because of negligence on behalf of a property owner, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death lawsuit.
It may also be possible to recoup the cost of a funeral or other final expenses, and punitive damages may also be available. An attorney may use past accidents, repair records and other evidence to show that a property owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition. This evidence may also be used to show that steps were not taken to remedy the issue or that no effort was made to warn those on the premises about the issue.