Mere weeks after Carnival passengers arrived in Mobile, Alabama, some have already hired attorneys and filed lawsuits against the mega-liner. That a life-threatening outbreak did not occur on the impaired ship was purely a matter of luck.

Built around 1929 to curb erosion, the jetty wall near the Bayboro Harbor channel in St. Petersburg, Florida was responsible for several serious boating accidents in recent years before its removal in 2010, including the October 2009 crash that killed 17-year-old Paige Davison.

Now that spring has ushered in warmer weather, Tampa Bay area residents from Clearwater to St. Pete and everywhere in between are finally able to enjoy Florida’s beaches and wide assortment of activities on the water, but it’s important to remember to take all necessary safety precautions to avoid accidents and injuries.