Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
The Laws of Boating (Part B)
Other No-No’s while Boating
- Riding on the bow or gunwales
- Failure to follow navigation rules
- Overloading or overpowering
- Obstructing other boaters
- Anchor your vessel in a travel waterway
- Obstruct a pier, landing, wharf, and/or boat ramp
- Damage, destroy, tamper with, or move any navigational aid
Unsafe Boating Conditions
- Not enough life jackets and/or fire extinguishers on board for the number of passengers
- No safety equipment on board
- Overloading the boat past capacity
- Any sort of fuel leakage
- Lack of proper ventilation spaces on the vessel as required
Boating Accident Reporting
- All boating accidents must be reported to the authorities.
- Boaters are obligated to assist other boaters who may be injured to the best of their ability.
- If you are involved in an accident, you are required to provide your contact information to the other boating parties, prior to leaving the scene of the accident.
Consequences of a BUI
Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited. In Massachusetts, a boater found to be boating under the influence can be sentenced to up to 30 months imprisonment, even for a first offense. Additionally fines can be levied.
If serious bodily injury occurs, the offender could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, if you are found to be boating under the influence in Massachusetts, your motor vehicle driver’s license can be revoked.
Legal Recourse
Have you, or a loved one, been the victim of a boating accident in Massachusetts? You may be able to claim negligence and seek compensation for your injuries if it can be proven that the boat’s operator was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Kiley Law Group can help you determine liability and pursue a lawsuit. Contact us today for a FREE evaluation of your case – (888) 208-1695. Our personal injury attorneys win accident cases!
