Recreational boating is a very popular activity in cities and towns close to the water and among the people who live in these places. As with other vessels, boating accidents do happen for a variety of reasons.
The operator should always follow all set rules and regulations and protect the safety and lives of all their passengers and even when they do, accidents still do happen.
So, what causes boating accidents?
Operator Not Paying Attention
Boats with a few passengers do not often have this issue, but when there are more than a few people on board, operator inattention becomes a serious and potentially dangerous issue.
All boat operators are expected to stay alert and pay attention to everything happening around them at all times. They should stay cognizant of the weather, their boat, prevailing conditions, and passengers.
The unpredictability of the water, weather, or people on board can quickly lead to dangerous situations that cause lapses in concentration and attention. It is during these instances that accidents are more likely to happen.
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Operator Inexperience
Although it may not seem like it, boats are extremely complicated vessels, especially when it comes to their control and operation. This is why all operators are required to have enough experience before venturing into the open waters.
If the operator does not have experience operating under difficult and changing conditions, with loud passengers on board or when the water is choppy, there is a high probability they might not be able to get the boat out of serious situations.
Intoxication
Alcohol and drugs have numerous effects on the human body, and the ones most people are familiar with are poor judgment and slow reaction times. Combine intoxication with a high-stress environment such as the open waters, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Operating a boat while under the influence is a serious and dangerous issue. If an accident happens under these circumstances, that could be filed under negligence by the operator. Because the cause of the accident could have been prevented, you might be entitled to compensation.
Boating accident lawyers can help you hold the culpable operator responsible for any emotional, mental or physical damage attributed to the accident. The attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin have extensive experience dealing with such cases, and they provide an excellent opportunity for you to win your suit.
Improper Lookout
The lookout works directly with the operator, looking out for any hazards that could occur in the water or with other boats. Every boat is required to have a lookout who uses hearing, hearing and other means to detect hazards and alert the operator about them.
They should also be on the lookout for changing weather, choppy waters and other conditions that the operator may be unaware of. If the lookout does not pay attention, they put the boat and its passengers at risk if there is a boating accident due to their actions or inaction.
Excessive Speed
This applies to boats as much as it applies to boats. There is a reason there are speed limits for most vehicles and vessels. At higher speeds, we do not have time to react if something happens.
Since things can change quickly when you are on the water, speeding means you are more likely to cause an accident under such circumstances.
Boating at a safe speed is best for everyone. Even though operators should operate their vessels at appropriate speeds to avoid liabilities, they should also do so for the sake of their passengers, for whom the results of a boating accident could be catastrophic.
Most waterways now have speed limits, and the operator should adhere to these limits, especially in areas where the risk of collisions is higher.
Machinery Failure
Operators should ensure their boats are maintained properly and services regularly to avoid mechanical issues that can arise seemingly out of nowhere. If any of the boat’s parts is defective or fails, there is a chance of a serious accident happening.
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Hazardous Weather Conditions
Although most boating accidents happen due to someone doing or not doing something, some happen due to circumstances that are out of the operator’s control. For example, inclement weather that seemingly comes out of nowhere can cause an accident without it being the operator’s fault.
It is, however, important for all operators to be properly trained and have experience boating in different weather conditions. Although many of them will take their boats out in the summer, strong winds can cause issues, as can rain and other weather phenomena.
Hazardous weather conditions typically go hand in hand with hazardous weather conditions. Strong winds can cause choppy waters, while rapid tidal flows can make it impossible to operate the boat.
Boating accidents are as serious as car accidents because they cause a significant number of injuries and fatalities every year. Understanding the causes above should help operators better avoid them.
