Summer Boating Safety and Accident Prevention

 Posted on July 17, 2018 in Personal Injury

During the hot summer months, spending time on the water is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while staying cool. However, the increased use of boats during the summer leads to a higher likelihood of boat accidents, which can result in serious injuries.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,291 boating accidents across the United States in 2017, resulting in 658 fatalities and 2,629 injuries. In Wisconsin, there were 106 reported incidents, which resulted in 25 fatalities and 79 injuries. Those who use boats can decrease the risk of boat accident injuries by following the proper safety measures.

Practicing Boat Safety

Boat operators and passengers can protect their safety by following these tips: 

• Wear a Life Jacket – The number one cause of death in Wisconsin boating accidents is drowning. In 88 percent of fatal boating accidents, a person was not wearing a life jacket, and 53 percent of boat operators were not wearing life jackets when they were involved in an accident. Ensuring that boat operators and passengers are wearing the proper flotation devices can mean the difference between life and death in a boat accident.

• Receive Proper Training – Per statistics, operator inexperience was the top contributing factor in Wisconsin boat accidents. Boat operators are required to pass a boating safety course before they can legally operate a motorboat or personal watercraft. By receiving safety training, those who use boats can help ensure they are acting safely to protect themselves, their passengers, and others on the water.

• Do Not Drink and Drive – Alcohol use was the second most common contributing factor in Wisconsin boat accidents, and alcohol was involved in 40 percent of fatal accidents. It is illegal to operate a boat while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs in Wisconsin, and a person may face boating under the influence (BUI) charges if he or she operates a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.

• Avoid Distractions – Operator inattention was the third most common contributing factor in Wisconsin boat accidents. Boat operators should take care to pay close attention to their boat, their passengers, and what is happening around them. 

Contact a Milwaukee Personal Injury Attorney

While boating can be a fun, refreshing activity, a boat accident can cause serious, life-changing injuries. If you have been injured because of the negligence of a boat operator, the attorneys of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP can help you determine your best options for pursuing the compensation that will address the damages you have suffered. Contact our Milwaukee, WI boat accident lawyers at 414-271-1440 to arrange a consultation.

Sources:

http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2017.pdf

https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/le/LEB314_2017.pdf

https://www.boat-ed.com/wisconsin/handbook/page/21/Boating-Accidents/