| Thousands of boating crashes occur each year | | | | severely impairs judgement, reactions and |
| and hundreds of Americans suffer more than just | | | | coordination of a driver. |
| damaged boats, but rather, loss of limb as well as | | | | Staying Safe on The Water |
| other severe injuries and even death. | | | | Here are a few tips to stay safe on the water: |
| In 2005 alone, 697 fatalities and 3451 injuries | | | | . The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers boating |
| were caused by recreational boating accidents, | | | | safety courses, which are imperative for a boat |
| which are accidents occurring in any type of | | | | owner to take. These clsses are also available on |
| watercraft (motor boats, sailboats, inflatables, or | | | | CD; |
| houseboats). A negligent boating operator who is | | | | . Know the maximum capacity of the vessel and |
| found to be at fault will most likely pay for | | | | resist overloading it with passengers or gear; |
| damages, which can include property, medical, lost | | | | . Every passenger on the boat should be wearing |
| wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. | | | | a life preserve jacket, but if they refuse, you |
| Types of accidents | | | | must at least have a life jacket available on board |
| According to the Coast Guard Recreational | | | | for all individuals. |
| Boating Accident Report Database, boating | | | | Adults do not have to wear the PFDs while on |
| accidents must be reported if: | | | | board, but must be able to access them easily. It |
| . Death was a result; | | | | is imperative that all children wear life jackets |
| . Injury required medical treatment beyond first | | | | while on board, but each state defines what the |
| aid; | | | | age limits are for requiring life jackets. Individuals |
| . Damage to the vessel or other property was | | | | operating a boat of 16 feet or longer are required |
| $2000 or more; or | | | | to make available a throwable PFD; |
| . Vessel was not repairable. | | | | . All large boats should be equipped with a fire |
| Collisions with another boat or with fixed objects | | | | extinguisher, and, even some small boats should |
| such as a marina dock; capsizing, and passengers | | | | keep a fire retardant device on board as well; |
| falling overboard account for approximately 58 | | | | . Get a free vessel safety check; |
| percent of all boating accident fatalities. Contact | | | | . Watch for potential threats at a marina such as |
| with the propeller, water skier mishaps, | | | | loose boards, uncoiled rope, leaky hoses, and |
| explosions, and fire also contribute to the types | | | | faulty gas pumps; and |
| of boating accidents that occur on our | | | | . Wear non-slip shoes and encourage your |
| waterways. Moreover, statistics show that 70 | | | | passengers to do the same. |
| percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned | | | | What to do if involved in a boating accident |
| mostly because they were not wearing a personal | | | | A boating accident must be reported if it meets |
| floatation device (PFD) or life jacket. Trauma is | | | | any of the criteria mentioned above in this article. |
| the other leading cause of death in boating | | | | The Coast Guard as well as all additional state |
| accidents. | | | | agencies that regulate boats must be alerted in |
| Cause and effect | | | | the event of an accident. Additionally, a boat |
| Negligence in a boating accident can be attributed | | | | insurance company should be contacted. State |
| to a careless or reckless operator whose lack of | | | | liability laws and measures can be quite confusing |
| knowledge of basic boating safety rules, | | | | after a boating accident, which is why it is |
| disobeying safety laws, or alcohol use cause these | | | | advisable to speak with a boat-crash law firm that |
| unfortunate fatalities. Alcohol and the open water | | | | has experience with similar situations and cases. |
| can be a dangerous combination. | | | | Courts will examine the cause of the accident, |
| The motion of the boat, sun, wind, and spray | | | | whether the vessel malfunctioned, the degree of |
| accelerate impairment. Boating under the influence | | | | carelessness by the operator, and the |
| (BUI) can in some cases be more dangerous than | | | | carelessness of the victim before determining |
| driving under the influence (DUI) because many | | | | fault. And finally, if you are injured in a boating |
| boaters have less experience maneuvering a boat | | | | accident, seek advice from an experienced |
| than a car. Some of the most common accidents | | | | personal injury lawyer. |
| occur because of alcohol consumption, which | | | | |