Skiing
The blistering hot days of summer are on the way and that will have everyone searching for water. Lakes will be packed with those looking to beat the heat. Swimmers, fishermen and women, jet skis, and most importantly boats. Fishing boats, house boats, speed boats, and ski boats. With all of this traffic on the water, safety is a must and accidents are inevitable. In 2016, the Coast Guard counted 4,463 accidents that involved 701 deaths, 2,903 injuries and approximately $49 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. In order to stay safe on the waterways, it is helpful to understand what kind of boating accidents are most common.
Jet Ski
Needless to say the waterways are dangerous especially when you factor in family, friends, a myriad of distractions combined with the consumption of alcohol can result in accidents, injuries and even death. Boating can be an enjoyable hobby but the dangers can be deadly. here are the facts”
- Where cause of death was known, 80% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 83% were not wearing a life jacket.
- Eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in
length. - Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; where
the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 15% of deaths. - Where instruction was known, 77% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator
did not receive boating safety instruction. Only 13% percent of deaths occurred on
vessels where the operator had received a nationally-approved boating safety
education certificate. - There were 171 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller.
Collectively, these accidents resulted in 24 deaths and 175 injuries. - Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed, and
machinery failure rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. - Where data was known, the vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were
open motorboats (47%), kayaks (13%), and canoes (9%). - The 11,861,811 recreational vessels registered by the states in 2016 represent a
0.04% decrease from last year when 11,867,049 recreational vessels were
registered.
If You Are Involved in a Boating Accident Contact Jones Brown PLLC.
Jones Brown PLLC
A boating accident may lead to serious injury and even death. Medical bills can pile up and some injuries may require further medical attention. You may be eligible for compensation or benefits that could help reduce your burden. If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s important to consult with a personal injury lawyer at Jones Brown Law.
Consulting a personal injury lawyer with Jones Brown Law about your accident can provide you with more information about your situation and how you can move forward with a case and receive compensation. The expert and professional team of personal injury lawyers at Jones Brown Law specialize in boating accidents will use their expertise to maximize the chances of a positive outcome for you and your loved ones.
Our experienced attorneys can offer their advice and help with boating accidents. If you have any questions or seek legal help, contact the law offices of Jones Brown immediately by CLICKING HERE
Sources: http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2016.pdf
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