Author: Joseph Devine
Source: ezinearticles.com
There are some recreational activities that you can engage in throughout the whole year. Most people would agree that boating is not one of them. The summer offers an appealing combination of warm weather, sunny skies, and vacation time that draws people from near and far to lakes, rivers, and seas to explore life on the water for the day, week, or months. But in the midst of all the fun and excitement, one person’s recklessness or negligence can turn what should be a relaxed and enjoyable outing into a tragedy of epic proportion for an individual or family.
While there are rigidly enforced standards and regulations regarding the operation of automobiles on the roadways that have become deeply ingrained in the public mind, there is something of a Wild West mentality on the waterways. Each state does have its own set of boating requirements with regard to operator age, safety equipment, and other aspects of seafaring vehicle operation. Yet many people continue to make decisions and engage in behaviors that violate these laws and place others at risk of serious injury or death.
What to Do and Avoid on the Water
Hundreds of people are killed each year in recreational boating accidents in the United States. Though the travel is typically at lower speeds than those of land-based counterparts, there exist a variety of factors that can complicate search and rescue efforts when watercraft accidents occur. You cannot control the actions of other boaters and their passengers, but you can take all the appropriate steps to maximize your own vessel’s readiness for coping with a collision or other danger. This is especially important as the owner, operator, or renter of a boat on which you are carrying other passengers because you are likely to be held legally liable for their safety and well-being.
There is no reason to panic, though, and here are some helpful suggestions for preventive measures that can potentially save your life or the lives of your passengers:
Do
Ensure that your boat is properly maintained – boats may sit idle for months or years at a time and this can lead to significant deterioration of vital system conditions
Carry life jackets – each state has its own requirement, but generally you will want to make sure that you have at least one United States Coast Guard approved life vest for each person onboard
Stay alert – though boating can be relaxing, it is important that you remain aware of your surroundings
Don’t
Drink and boat – there is a long established culture of drinking while out on the water but it is as dangerous to operate a boat while under the influence as it is to drive a car
Be reckless – it can be tempting to test your boat’s capacity and your own ability, but there are too many variables to make pressing the limits a wise choice
Boat on unfamiliar water after dark – there are few or no lights other than those from boats, so it is challenging to see sandbars, rocks, and other obstacles after the sun goes down
Accidents Don’t Happen – Negligence Does
If you have been injured or suffered property damage or loss due to another boater’s unsafe operation of his or her vessel or a boat company’s failure to provide the appropriate equipment, then it may be advisable to pursue a legal action. Contact the Charleston boat accident lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm to learn more about your rights.
Joseph Devine
