Orange County Boating Accident Attorney

Every year in the United States, hundreds of people lose their lives, thousands get injured, and millions of dollars are lost due to preventable boating accidents. Many of these accidents happen because of negligence or mistakes made by boat operators, passengers, or other individuals. Sometimes, the cause is a failure or defect in boat equipment or machinery.

If you or a loved one has been injured or wrongful death in a boating accident, the first steps are to get medical help and report the accident to the proper authorities (see below for more on reporting boating accidents). After that, it’s important to contact a qualified boating accident attorney in Orange County. They can evaluate your case, protect your interests, and help you seek the compensation you deserve for your losses and suffering.

Read on to learn more about boating accidents, including statistics, common types of accidents, causes of boating accidents, common injuries, when and how to report boating accidents, preventing boating accidents and how our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help.

Boating Accident Statistics

The US Coast guard compiled the following most recent (2007) statistics:

• While boating accident deaths dropped from 2006 to 2007, the number of accidents, injuries, and damages associated with boating accidents increased
• In fatal boating accidents, nearly 70 percent of victims drowned. Of these drowning victims, a striking 90 percent were not wearing life jackets
• In fatal boating accidents in 2007, only 14 percent of the boat operators in these accidents received prior boating safety instruction.
• 75 percent of all boating accident drowning deaths occurred in vessels measuring less than 21 feet in length.

What are the Common Types of Boating Accidents?

The most common types of boating accidents are:

• Collisions with another boat
• Collisions with a fixed object, such as a pier, dock, a submerged object or other physical objects
• Skiing or other towing accidents
• Overboard falls
• Capsizing

Less common types of boating accidents can involve fires, explosions, electrocution, ejection from the vessel, propeller injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning, and swimming accidents involving boats.

What are the Causes of Boating Accidents?

According to the US Coast Guard, the following are the most common causes of boat accidents in the United States:

• Operator negligence, inattention, or errors (involved in 70 percent of all boating accidents)
• Passenger or skier behaviors
• Excess speed
• Careless or reckless operation of a boat
• Alcohol use (reported to contribute to 35 percent of all boating-related deaths)
• No proper lookout on the boat
• Operator inexperience
• Machine failure or defect
• Weather
• Equipment failure or defect

The most common types of boats involved in boating accidents are:

• Open motorboats (involved in 44 percent of accidents)
• Personal watercraft (involved in 24 percent of accidents)
• Cabin motorboats (involved in 15 percent of accidents)
• Kayaks and Canoes
• Pontoon boats

What Are Common Boating Accident Injuries?

Drowning is the lead cause of death in a boating accident. Other causes of death in boating accidents include traumatic injury (such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury), hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning). Common types of non-fatal injuries in boating accidents can include, brain and spinal injuries, fractures, lacerations and bruises, concussions, and more.

How Do I Report a Boating Accident?

Under federal law, boating accidents must be reported by filing a Boating Accident Report (BAR) with the state or other boating authority. These reports must be made after an accident involving a boat or its equipment under the following circumstances:

Within 48 hours if:

• A person dies as a result of the boating accident
• A person requires emergency medical treatment beyond first aid
• If a person disappears from the vessel

Within ten days if the only vessel and/or property damage or loss occurs.

How to Prevent Boating Accidents: Follow Boat Safety

While there are many ways to make boating safer and more enjoyable, the following precautions are among the most important to prevent accidents:

• Stay sober. Alcohol and boating don’t mix. About 35% of fatal boating accidents involve alcohol or drugs, and 20% of all boating accidents are due to these substances.
• Use and maintain safety equipment. Ensure you have life jackets, flotation devices, fire extinguishers, boat lights, a first aid kit, emergency supplies, and an anchor on board.
• Be aware of weather and water conditions. Regardless of the season, always monitor the weather and water conditions.
• Learn boat safety. Take a boat safety class; the US Coast Guard’s website has a list of available classes.
• Prepare properly. Before setting out, inform someone of your plans, open all hatches, run the blower, and check for fumes before starting the engine. Avoid overloading the boat and follow proper boat launching etiquette.
• Wear your life jacket. In 90 percent of all fatal boating accidents, the victim was not wearing a life jacket.
• Follow navigation and boating rules.
• Stay vigilant. Always be aware of your surroundings, the boat’s movement, weather and water conditions, and the location of other boats and objects. Most boating accidents are due to negligence and error.

Contact an Orange County Boating Accident Attorney Today

While following these and other boat safety recommendations can prevent many boating accidents, these tragic incidences still kill and injure thousands every year.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a boating accident, it is wise to contact a qualified boat accident attorney who can meticulously evaluate the details of your case to determine the best way to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Through a boat accident claim, you may be able to recover your losses—including medical expenses, other out-of-pocket expenses, loss of income or earning potential, property damage—and suffering, including loss of companionship or a loved one, emotional pain, and other types of suffering.

Please contact us today to speak with a qualified attorney who can evaluate your situation and determine the best way to help. We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.