| Every year, millions of Americans enjoy boating | | | | - Alcohol use ( the leading factor in accident and in |
| on our nation’s waterways. According to the | | | | 21% of all boating deaths) |
| National Association of State Boating Law | | | | Additional causes of boating accidents may include |
| Administrators, (NASBLA), 12,875,568 vessels | | | | negligence in boat operation or maintenance, |
| were registered in 2007, representing a one | | | | engine failure, defective instrumentation or boat |
| percent increase over 2006. Unfortunately, those | | | | parts, and improper or negligent equipment |
| number also represent the potential for boating | | | | storage and baggage storage. |
| accidents that cause injury, disability and death | | | | These statistics do not calculate personal and |
| every year. | | | | property damage that can occur on a boat due |
| NASBLA’s 2007 National Recreational Boating | | | | to someone’s violent behavior, injury or death |
| Safety Program Executive Summary reports the | | | | while swimming or snorkeling in the water or |
| following statistics: | | | | diving from the boat, due to environmental issues |
| The number of deaths dropped from 710 in 2006 | | | | or while the boat is docked. Actually, 65 people |
| to 685 in 2007 | | | | were injured and 36 lost their lives in 2007 in |
| Other casualty figures increased: | | | | boating accidents that occurred while the boat |
| - Accidents rose from 4967 to 5191 | | | | was docked. |
| - Injuries rose from 3474 to 3673 | | | | Obviously, for all its pleasures, boating presents a |
| - Damages rose from $43,670,424 to | | | | number of harmful or potentially dangerous |
| $53,106,496 | | | | situations that can cause untold misery for |
| Over two-thirds of all fatal boating accident | | | | victims. Regardless of the reason for your |
| victims drowned, and of those, ninety percent | | | | accident or injury, you can consult with a qualified |
| were not wearing a life jacket. Three out of | | | | personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit for |
| every four who drowned were boating on | | | | damages, which will help pay for your medical bills, |
| vessels less than twenty-one feet in length. Half | | | | lost wages, property damage and pain and |
| of the sixteen children who died in boating | | | | suffering. Even for minor injuries, prompt medical |
| accidents died from drowning. | | | | evaluation is wise. Long-term physical and |
| Fourteen percent of deaths occurred on vessels | | | | emotional results may not be apparent at the |
| where the operator hadreceived boating safety | | | | outset, and medical treatment may be needed |
| instruction | | | | beyond emergency treatment for immediate |
| The most common types of vessels involved in | | | | injuries. If a family member has lost their life in |
| reported accidents were: | | | | boating accident, you can file a wrongful death |
| - Open motorboats (44%) | | | | suit. |
| - Personal watercraft (24%) | | | | Although laws vary from state to state, a statute |
| - Cabin motorboats (15%) | | | | of limitations applies to filing a claim, so consulting |
| The top five primary contributing factors in | | | | with a personal injury attorney as quickly as |
| boating accidents are: | | | | possible is vital to ensuring your rights are |
| - Operator inattention | | | | protected. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Law |
| - Operator inexperience | | | | Firm of Gary W. Starnes has provided |
| - Careless/reckless operation | | | | experienced personal injury representation to |
| - Passenger/skier behavior | | | | since 1986. |
| - Excessive speed | | | | |