Reasons Why Boat Accidents Can Be Deadly – Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys
Heading out onto the open water can be truly exhilarating and refreshing, whether that’s taking the speed boat into the ocean or meandering along river canals. However, exploring the world on a boat doesn’t come without its risks and dangers including collisions and drowning, which are just two of the reasons why boat accidents can be deadly.
Let’s Start with Sinking
Boat trips are supposed to be enjoyable, whether it’s on a personal boat or belonging to a tour operator. However, feeling the oceanic breeze pass through your hair can soon turn into a tragic affair, especially if the boat collides with an object and takes on the damage. When water begins entering the boat, it’s only a matter of time until the ship sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
Even though there are coast guards and boat rescues services, the ocean is a large place and a collision could damage tracking systems, which would make it difficult for a rescue team to find your boat. If there are no lifeboats on board, this could mean floating in the water for some time, which leads to a high chance of hypothermia and potential death.
Poor-Quality Safety Equipment
Before you head out on a boat, you should make sure there’s sufficient safety equipment on board including life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers, whistles, and lighting. If the boat hits trouble on the water, missing any of these essential safety items could be the difference between life and death. If the boat you’re using belongs to you, it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s well-equipped.
When the boat belongs to a business, they’re legally responsible to make sure there’s enough safety equipment. If you suffered injuries after a boat accident, and negligent actions were responsible, you can trust the personal injury accident lawyers at Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys to make sure responsible parties are held accountable and you receive the compensation you deserve.
Getting Stranded at Sea
Boats are just like any other vehicle – they operate on mechanics and fuel. However, unlike motor vehicles, boats are left to float in open water when the system fails following an accident.
Modern boats have emergency equipment on board to signal for help, but there’s nothing to prevent tracking and communication from dropping as well. If this happens, the clock is ticking because the average adult can survive for three days without food and water. If the boat you’re on is truly stranded at sea, the accident is may end in fatalities.
If you or a loved one has lost someone at sea and it wasn’t their fault, our wrongful death lawyers can help you claim compensation to cover funeral expenses, emotional distress, changes to life, and other financial losses.
Wet Surfaces and Slip Hazards
Boat surfaces are prone to being wet – it goes with the territory of being on the water. Water and oil can make the deck of a boat extremely slippery, which can lead to serious injuries including being thrown overboard. If this happens, the likelihood of a fatality is significantly increased. To avoid slip and fall accidents, it’s essential to wear appropriate footwear and move with caution at all times. As well as this, proper signage designed to warn passengers should be put in place by boat operators.
If wet surfaces were the reason for your boat accident, no matter how serious the injury, you may be entitled to compensation. The first step to recovering financial losses is contacting our personal injury law firm for a free consultation.
When You Add Alcohol
When you add alcohol into the scenario, the potential for deadly boating accidents increases exponentially. Intoxicated people have a poor sense of navigation and fewer inhibitions, which can result in reckless and often fatal behavior. If using your boat or a loved one’s, it’s important to make sure any passengers drink responsibly if at all. To avoid temptation, only take a suitable amount to fulfill recommended daily allowances.
If you’re on a boat tour or cruise, having fun is part of the experience, and that sometimes includes alcohol. However, just like any other licensed premises, the operator has to be sensible when selling alcohol including refusing sales to intoxicated people.
A Lack of Operator Experience
Boat operators need to understand all boating laws as well as how to safely control their vehicles. By heading out onto the water without the necessary experience, it puts everyone in danger. A great starting point for gaining experience is a boaters course for the type of boat to be operated, which will help reduce insurance as well.
If you’ve had a boat accident and suspect driver inexperience may be to blame, our accident injury lawyers can help you get to the bottom of it. Once you’ve attended the free consultation and decided to use our legal services, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation to find out if negligence caused your boat accident.
Distractions Can Lead to Crashes
Just like driving a car, paying attention to operating a boat is essential for avoiding potentially deadly accidents. When you’re out having fun with loved ones but you’re responsible for operating the boat, having a swim and relaxing seem a lot more appealing. However, whenever the boat is moving, attention must be consistently focused on operating the boat.
Poor Weather Conditions
Sometimes, boat operators can do everything by the book, but Mother Nature has other ideas and brings along adverse weather conditions. Anything from high winds to horrific storms can be devastating for boats, and they have the potential of causing extreme accidents.
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