Boat Accidents

Boat accidents are defined as any accident that takes place involving a marine vessel. Boat accidents are very similar to car accidents with regard to property damage and personal injury resulting from collisions. However, boat accidents include supplemental elements of danger due to the environmental presence of water; as a result, studies show that drowning deaths contributeto an estimated 7,000 deaths per year in conjunction to boat accidents;boat accidents are considered to be amongst the most deadly accidents that occur.

Safe Operation

Proper training, participation in safety courses, and certification can assist in avoiding fatal boat accidents both upon eliminating the risk of drowning deaths, as well as ensuring proper operation of the vessel:
•    Individuals involved in damage caused or injury sustained as a result of a boat accident are encouraged to meet with an attorney in order to review the case details in order to properly determine liability and investigate the factors of the accident in question
•    Life jackets and other preventative marine-safety equipment should be donned by all passengers on a boat at all times
•    Akin to vehicular DUI and DWI laws, drugs and alcohol should never be consumed while operating a boat

Certification and Training

1.    Boat Operators Certificate/Boat License: Although boating laws, certifications, and documentation may vary from state to state, safe boating is a uniform practice. Each of the 50 United States implements strict protocols with which an individual must adhere, which include legal age of operation, boating examinations, boating evaluations, and boating certification. Boat accidents and/or mishaps that result from the unsafe, unlawful operation of a boat can result in heavy fines, revocation of certification, and – in certain cases – jail time.
2.    Boat Operators Insurance: In order to legally operate a boat, the owner/operator of the boat is required to possess insurance, which not only covers the owner or operator of the boat, but also provides coverage and liability assessment subsequent to a boat accident; it is illegal to operate a boat without boating insurance.
3.    Safety Training:The follow are some examples of courses in which boat operators are encouraged to participate:
•    CPR courses
•    Lifesaving Courses
•    Swimming Instruction
•    Nautical Accident Prevention

Types of Boat Accidents

Boat accidents can involve a wide range of nautical vessels, ranging from large ocean liners to smaller, privately-owned boats. Apart from drowning, the unsafe operation of a boat as a result of impaired operation – through the use of alcohol and/or drugs – is amongst one of the most common causes for boat accidents:
•    The legal limit for the safe operation of a vehicle is analogous to the legal limit to operate a boat. States in which a maximum blood alcohol content level (BAC) to lawfully operate a motor vehicle is .08% share that same BAC with the operation of a boat; the penalties of impaired operation are similar, as well – the severity of the boat accident in question regulates subsequent fines and additional penalties.

Legality of Boat Accidents

The parameters employed to determine fault and establish liability in boat accidents vary on an individual basis and in conjunction with the all parties involved, such as the individual role(s), action(s), and behavior(s) within the scope of the boat accident in question; the completion of all documentation with regard to a boat accident should be completed to the fullest extent - in a meticulous fashion. In the event that an individual experiences difficulty understanding the circumstances and procedures involving the filing of a boat accident claim, they are encouraged to consult an attorney specializing in nautical or maritime law, accidents, and personal injury.