Summer Boating Accidents: Top 3 Tips for Legal Liability and Prevention
You can and should do everything in your power to maximize your safety when boating and prevent accidents. If you have been injured in a boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the boating accident attorneys at Schauermann Thayer can fight for you to receive the compensation that you deserve.
Boating safety begins with you. It is essential that you take steps to protect yourself and your passengers from dangers when you are on the water. A few simple steps, and some caution, can help you enjoy your day and return to shore safely.
Call the lawyers at Schauermann Thayer if you have been injured in a boating accident. Our attorneys will provide you with vigorous legal representation to help you maximize your financial compensation if someone else’s carelessness was to blame for your injuries.
Summer means boating season in the Pacific Northwest. There are nearly 238,000 registered boats in Washington, and many of these boaters take to the water when the weather is warmer. Boating safety is essential. Even if others do not observe the law, you should do everything that you can to reduce the chances of a serious accident. Here are boating safety tips to protect yourself from injury and liability when you are on the water.
Never Boat Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Alcohol is a factor in a large proportion of fatal boating accidents. According to the United States Coast Guard, roughly 17% of boating accident fatalities occur in incidents where alcohol is involved. For every accident that results in a fatality, there are scores more people who suffer serious injuries in intoxicated boating accidents.
Alcohol affects a boater by making them far less risk-averse behind the wheel. They are more likely to speed and exercise questionable judgment when they are under the influence. In addition, alcohol also decreases a boater’s reflexes and alters their perceptions. Finally, boaters and their passengers who are consuming alcohol are also more likely to develop hypothermia if they end up in the water.
Never consume a drop of alcohol when you are operating a boat. Always have a designated boater on board who is not drinking and who can assume the controls when it is necessary. You should also consider monitoring the alcohol intake of your passengers, so they can react and respond in the event of an emergency.
Pay Attention to the Weather Conditions
Inclement weather makes things much more dangerous when you are on the water. In the Pacific Northwest, everyone knows that the weather can change in an instant. Even if weather conditions appear normal and tranquil right now, they can become dangerous in a short amount of time.
You should always check the weather forecast for the entire time that you plan on being on the water and the period immediately thereafter (because forecasters do not always get the timing right). If there is rough weather in the forecast, you should stay off the water. If you are away from shore when the weather looks like it is changing, you should immediately proceed back, so you are not on the water when there is a hazardous storm.
Always Boat Defensively
While you can do everything in your power to remain safe while boating, you cannot necessarily control what other people do on the water. They can be unsafe and place you and your family and friends in danger. While you cannot entirely eliminate the risk of an accident, you can at least reduce the chances by boating defensively.
Your own safety practices should begin with observing posted speed limits and controlling your speed on the open water. One of the biggest causes of boating accidents is when you run through a wake created by another boater’s speed. As such, you should maintain a safe distance between you and other boaters and observe all no-wake zones.
Defensive boating also means that you make the proper preparations to be safe. It begins with taking a boating safety course and understanding all the laws that apply to recreational watercraft. Defensive boating also means that you wear a life jacket, and your boat has personal flotation devices for everyone on board. Finally, you should perform all necessary maintenance on your boat, being proactive about making repairs when they are needed.
If you have been injured in a boating accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. When you contact a boating accident lawyer, they could review your case and help you determine who you may be able to sue. Then, a boating accident attorney can gather evidence that you can use to prove liability when you file a claim or lawsuit seeking compensation. Our lawyers will negotiate for you to receive the largest possible settlement, or we can try your case in front of a jury.
Contact a Washington Boating Accident Attorney Today
Get legal help from the experienced boating accident lawyers at Schauermann Thayer. The only thing that you need to do is call us at (360) 695-4244 to schedule a free initial consultation. There is no fee to you unless you win your case.
Sources:
https://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/hypothermia/
https://www.caplantamburino.com/blog/2021/august/designated-driver-summer-calls-for-a-designated-/
About the Author
Scott A. Staples
Scott Staples came on board in 2006 as a clerk during law school, and joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2007. He was made a shareholder in the firm in 2010. Scott graduated, cum laude, from Washington State University Vancouver with a BA in English, and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law, with cum laude honors there as well. He has successfully represented clients in a variety of different types of injury cases, including auto collisions, premises liability, animal attacks, watercraft accidents, and construction site injuries. He has appeared, and won, before the Washington State Supreme Court (Weismann v. Safeco, 2012).
