3 Ways To Reduce Your Chances Of A Boating Accident
Corbin Sutter
Personal Injury
There are a lot of boat owners in Florida, and that’s not a big surprise. Our state is blessed with being surrounded by ocean on its west, south, and eastern sides, while its southernmost location also makes for warm, mild weather all year round. As a result, people here can use boats throughout the year, and many Florida residents take advantage of this fact. Unfortunately, it also means that with many more boats in use all year long, the chances of getting into an accident go up too. In some cases, negligence may be responsible for injuries. If that happens, then legal consequences—such as personal injury lawsuits—may follow in their wake.
Here are three things you can do to reduce the chances of getting into a boating accident that may be your fault.
Always Consult The Weather
This seems like it should be a common sense, first move. Still, many enthusiast boaters just looking for an impulsive, quick trip often ignore this. Weather is always a significant factor on land, but it can be a matter of life and death on the sea. A storm on the ocean can sink boats and drown people, and these storms don’t always make themselves apparent in the morning. They can move quickly, even if the horizon seems clear.
This is why it’s essential to not just look at the sky when you wake up on the day of a boating trip but listen closely to the weather. Just because you look out the window at breakfast and see clear skies, that is no guarantee it will still be like that in eight or ten hours. Going on a boating trip—especially with children—and getting caught in a storm can result in a tragedy and even loss of life.
Obey Speed Limits & Other Rules
One of the biggest mistakes boaters make is thinking that they can afford to be much more relaxed about obeying regulations at sea. This false sense of security comes from the lack of traffic lanes or roads that need to be followed and the greater difficulty in correctly estimating speed with a lack of visual references.
Because of this, many boaters will travel as fast as they like, regardless of the recommended speed limits for the area, or for their craft once they get out into open waters. This can be especially problematic for larger boats with very large turning circles and can’t quickly get out of a collision course at high speed once a direction is set.
Remain Sober
Because boating is primarily a recreational activity here in Florida, drunk driving while boating is, unfortunately, the top cause of accidents, it is also a cause that is entirely avoidable since all an operator has to do is not drink alcohol.
Suppose you should get into a boating accident while drunk. In that case, it is almost certain that you will be found at fault and likely legally liable for personal injury due to negligence. Conversely, if you observe all boating recommendations and a drunk operator causes an accident with you, we can help. Talk to our attorneys for boating accidents about what to do next.