Boating Accidents in Southern California

Boat riding is a fun recreational activity that friends and family members can participate in while on vacation or within their communities. There are many positive aspects to boat riding, such as bringing loved ones together, creating new experiences, discovering new animals, or just relaxing to get away from everyday life. Although boat riding is a fun and enjoyable experience, there are risks and unfortunate circumstances to be aware of. Thousands of boat injuries happen every year, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. Boat accidents are more frequent than people might be aware of. Therefore, it’s important to become educated about the causes of boat accidents in order to help apply prevention methods in the future.

Causes for Boat Accidents

The first major cause of boat accidents is operator inattention. Boat operators are responsible for monitoring the boat at all times, as well as checking weather conditions and looking out for any unsafe objects while at sea. Another cause for boat accidents is operator inexperience. Boat operators must understand rules of navigation and be equipped to handle emergency situations. Unfortunately, there are no tests that boat operators must pass in order to operate a boat; therefore, a lot of boat operators tend to be inexperienced. Excessive speed is another huge cause for boat accidents. Driving at an appropriate speed will give boat operators enough time to react to dangers.

Unfortunately, boat operators who navigate boats while impaired, also known as boating under the influence, is another cause for boat accidents. Equipment failure is another cause as well. Avoiding proper boat maintenance is not ensuring boat safety which almost always leads to dangerous circumstances. Lastly, dangerous waters, such as forceful waves and wakes, can be unexpected and cause injuries or fatalities since the only protection boat passengers have access to is life vests.

Boating Accident Law

Boat accident laws are regulated by federal, state, and local authorities, and consist of lifejacket laws, navigation rules, and more. When a person gets injured in a boat accident, not only can they file a personal injury lawsuit, but federal law requires the boat operator to file a boating accident report. Files must be made if a fatality occurs, if a passenger goes missing, or if damages equate to $2,000 or more. Filing a boat accident report does not excuse boat operators from reporting an accident for investigation.

Preventing Boating Accidents

When boat accidents occur, boats tend to sink, which could lead to passengers drowning. The best way to prevent drowning is wearing a life jacket or utilizing a flotation device. Passengers should also pay attention to the boat operators and make sure they’re not drinking. Passengers should also ask questions to ensure the boat operator is experienced and capable of monitoring the boat. Boat operators should always be up to date with boat laws and regulations. They should also be up to date with boat safety. Boat operators should always plan ahead, since they are solely responsible for not only their lives but the lives of their passengers, too.

If you’ve been injured in a boating accident, you’ll likely have a lot of questions about what to do next and the steps you need to take to ensure you’re compensated fairly. Our team at Los Angeles Injury Group can help you during this confusing time. Please call us at (310) 954-7248 for a free consultation.