Cases We Accept

• Vehicle Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Child Injury & Abuse
• Birth Injuries
• Wrongful Death Lawsuits
• Defective Products & Liability

Blog

Vehicle Accidents

• Three People Injured in Hyannis Rollover Car Accident
• Victim May Have Suffered Seizure Prior to Fatal Route 5 Crash

View All

Latest News

• At Least 500,000 Cribs Recalled After Infant Suffocation Deaths...Posted on 3/10/2010
• Massachusetts Senate Debates Texting While Driving Bill...Posted on 3/5/2010

View All

Library

Vehicle Accidents

• How Much is My Massachusetts Car Accident Worth? (Part A)
• How Much is My Massachusetts Car Accident Worth? (Part B)

View All

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What is the most common cause of fatal boating accidents?

A: In an annual report on recreational boating, the U.S. Coast Guard lists "Alcohol Use" as the number one cause of fatal boating accidents. Boating while under the influence of alcohol use was linked to 21% of all fatal accidents. Of the 339 recreational boating deaths reported nationwide, 145 were caused by alcohol use.  

Other common contributing factors include, in order:

• Careless/Reckless Operation
• Drug Use
• Excessive Speed
• Failure to Vent
• Lack of Improper Vessel Lights
• No Proper Lookout
• Operator Inattention
• Operator Inexperience
• Restricted Vision
• Rules of the Road Infraction
• Sharp Turn

Impaired Boating Skills 

Boating Under the Influence (BUI), is a serious problem as the weather warms and more and more people turn to the water as a source of recreation. Drinking excessively while boating can lead to the impairment of a boat operator and affect skills such as:

• Ability to distinguish colors
• Cognitive abilities
• Judgment
• Balance
• Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Focus
• Peripheral Vision

Impaired boat operators aren't just a danger to others on the water, but to themselves. Someone who is operating a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over .10% is 10 times more likely to die in an accident than someone who is sober. 

A person is considered to be boating under the influence, and subject to criminal sanctions, if they are found to have a .08 or greater BAC.  

Penalties for BUI in Massachusetts 

Boaters convicted of a BUI offense are subject to the following penalties:

• Imprisonment for up to 30 months
• Fine up to $1,000
• Motor vehicle license and vessel's registration revoked for up to one year
• Imprisonment up to 10 years, and fines up to $5,000 for accidents resulting in serious bodily injuries 
  
  

If you have been involved in a boating accident and injured due to someone else's negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. We will evaluate your case for FREE - 1-800-410-2769.

Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a respected member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Kiley Law Group are dedicated to helping the victims of:

• Car, motorcycle, truck, van or bus accident
• Single vehicle accidents such as SUV or 15-passenger van rollovers
• Pedestrian accidents such as a hit and run
• Defective products such as ineffective airbags or seatbelts, prescription drugs with unpublicized side-effects, or hazardous children's toys
• Child injury and child abuse such as negligence
• Birth injuries such as trauma during labor or cerebral palsy

We Serve Clients Across the State of Massachusetts
The firm's headquarters are in Andover, MA and serves the following cities in Massachusetts: Boston, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Reading, and Salem, MA and Salem, New Hampshire.