With the arrival of June comes sunny skies and warmer temperatures. As summer draws near, more and more people are going to be going out on their boats. Being on a boat can be a great way to spend time with your family and friends, but there is an element of danger to boating as well. In the year 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that there were 4,168 accidents recreational boating accidents. 2,559 people were injured, 613 people died, and there was about $55 million in property damages. Those numbers can seem daunting, but with the right precautions taken, you can safely enjoy your time on the water. Here are some causes of boating accidents and some precautions you can take in order to try to prevent these accidents:
- Operator Inattention: Driving a boat is like driving any other motor vehicle. You need to be on your guard at all times and be aware of your surroundings. You need to be prepared for anything.
- Improper Lookout: If you are with other people, then someone should be assisting the driver of the boat for any threats or hazards that could be dangerous. Having someone in this position decreases your odds of getting into an accident.
- Operator Inexperience: If you are to operate a motor boat, then you need to know the ins and outs of boating. It is important to be able to handle any kind of emergency situation.
- Excessive Speed: Speeding can be detrimental to your safety. You should always be driving at a safe and reasonable speed. This gives you time to react to your environment. Too much speed can cause you to get into accidents.
- Alcohol: If you are going to drive a boat, then you should be sober as you would in a regular motor vehicle. If you drink and drive a boat, then you only put yourself and your passengers in danger.
- Equipment Failure: Like other motor vehicles, you need to have routine maintenance for your boat. You do not want to be in the middle of a body of water and have your boat break down.
- Violating Navigation Rules: Like regular traffic laws, you need to know the rules when it comes to driving a motorboat. Any violations can threaten your safety.
- Water Conditions: How safe a body of water is can change at any moment. You need to be able to anticipate these kinds of dangers.
- Weather: Always check the weather before you go boating.
- Waves: Waves don’t just happen in surfing. Large waves in the water can pose as a threat.
If you or a loved one is injured in a boating accident, call the personal injury lawyers at Hurst Limontes LLC. We can help.