Does sailboat have right of way against barge in crash? Coast Guard rules to decide that

In a feature by the Miami Herald, Co-Managing Partner Aaron Davis shared his legal perspective on the tragic collision between a barge and a sailboat off Hibiscus Island that resulted in the deaths of two children and critical injuries to two others. As the Coast Guard investigates who had the right-of-way, Aaron noted that the civil liability will hinge on a range of factors, including distance, speed, visibility, and the presence of a proper lookout.

While emphasizing the complexity of maritime law, Aaron expressed deep concern over how a large, slow-moving barge could strike a small sailboat in a known summer camp area.

“It’s not as simple as the right of way on a road with regard to another vehicle,” Davis said. “Whether the accident was avoidable will depend on the position of that boat and the position of the barge at the time that they should’ve seen each other and how fast they were moving, their ability to avoid an accident.”

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article311497461.html