Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Boating Accident Statistics (Part B)
The American Boating Association research believes that for every alcoholic drink a boater has, his/her risk of death by boating accident increases representatively. In fact, even half a drink can increase a person’s risk of death by 30%.
Damages
Boating accidents often turn into a personal injury lawsuit and the damages awarded can be high. Recently in Virginia, two lawsuits are seeking $10 million from a 2007 boating accident where the driver of the boat survived.
The most common boating accident types reported for 2007 were:
- Collision with vessel
- Collision with fixed object
- Skier mishap
- Falls overboard
- Capsizing
The Top 10 Primary Contributing Factors of Boating Accidents in 2007:
- Operator inattention
- Careless/reckless behavior
- Passenger/skier behavior
- Excessive speed
- Alcohol use – Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
- No proper lookout
- Operator inexperience
- Machinery failure
- Weather
- Equipment failure
The Leading Boating Fatality Causes in 2007 (when life jackets are not worn):
- Drowning
- Trauma
- Unknown
- Hypothermia
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Other
The types of vessels with the highest casualty statistics for 2007 were:
- Open motorboat
- Personal watercraft (Jet Ski*)
- Cabin motorboat
- Canoe/Kayak
- Pontoon boat
*Although jet skis account for only six percent of all registered watercraft, they account for 17% of all Massachusetts boating accidents.
All of these statistics indicate a need for stronger boating laws and the enforcement of those laws and regulations. A key component to impacting these numbers is to ensure boaters wear safety vests and that operators receive boating preparation instructions combined with safety training.
If you, or one of your loved ones, have been injured or killed in a boating accident, contact a personal injury lawyer or Massachusetts wrongful death attorney to protect your rights in the case.
Kiley Law Group will evaluate your case for FREE. There are NO FEES unless one of our Boston personal injury lawyers wins your case.
