There are few things quite as peaceful as a day on the water. The wind in your hair, the careful rocking of the waves beneath the boat, the sun beating down on your skin as you take a sip from an ice-cold beverage… it can all be a magical experience. Unfortunately, your dream day on the water can quickly turn into a nightmare. With so many things that can go wrong when you're boating, it is consistently one of the most dangerous recreational activities you can take part in. The water can be an unforgiving place, and when another party isn't doing their part in keeping the water safe, you can suffer the consequences of their negligence.

Boating accidents are all-too-common around the world. Anywhere there is a high volume of boat traffic, there is a high volume of injuries and deaths as a result. Sometimes, it's not anyone's fault. Weather can turn sour in an instance when you're in the open water, leaving you at the whim of mother nature. A boat's mechanics can fail and leave you stranded. A surprise rough patch can quickly sink a boat before you even know what's happening. There are enough ways for things to go wrong without human error and negligence factored into the equation. But when another person's negligence does cause a life-altering tragedy on the water, it's important to seek out an experienced group of injury attorneys to plead your case and get you the compensation you deserve.

Contributing Factors

As with many types of vehicle accidents, alcohol is a very common factor in more serious boating accidents. In fact, studies by the Coast Guard show that alcohol was the most dangerous factor in all boating accidents, contributing to a whopping 17% of deaths. Other common factors include operator inattention, improper lookouts or mapping systems, operator inexperience, mechanical failure, and speeding. There are numerous ways for things to go wrong when you're operating a vehicle that weighs several tons on something as unstable as a body of water. No matter if it's a popular lake or it's the middle of the ocean, there are ways for human error to end with tragedy.

As of a 2015 study, there were 4,158 accidents involving boats that were listed by the US Coast Guard. Of these accidents, 626 resulted in fatalities while 2,613 ended with injuries either mild or severe. It's not just the injuries that mount up in a boating accident. Boats are not something they give out at the local bingo game. They are typically very expensive. That's why, on top of all the tragedy, there is a huge cost that goes into these accidents. That same report stated that $42 million dollars of damages were reported during these boating accidents involving recreational vehicles. At the end of the day, these numbers even out to a little over five deaths per 100,000 boats on the water. That is five families who will never get to spend another day on the water with their loved ones. If you ask us, that's five too many.

The Seriousness of the Situation

Unfortunately, these numbers don't seem to be going anywhere. Year after year, boating accidents continue to be a major cause of serious injuries. When an individual is involved in a boating accident, they are usually thrown from the boat and into the water. Their ability to swim properly may not have been taken into account before the boat ride because most people don't plan for a boat accident to take place. That's why they're so tragic. Even if they are a great swimmer, they can find themselves with broken arms or legs that hinder them from being able to move properly. Even worse, head injuries could render them completely unconscious. While that is serious enough when it happens on land, an unconscious person in the water can quickly succumb to the elements. When in the water, hazardous chemicals can pool around them or they can be left at the mercy of the elements around them, which are often not kind. Combine all of this with not wearing a life jacket, and the injuries can be quite severe. Broken bones, head trauma, and paralysis are all quite common due to the sheer power behind boating accidents. Especially if two boats collide.

If two boats of any size run into each other, the results can be devastating in an instant. As most boats inherently don't have the reaction time or turning power of other vehicles, it's easy to see why so many of these accidents take place. If one person decides that they aren't going to practice proper safety measures, countless other people can have their lives changed forever. In 2017, with around 12 million boats being registered, the studies show that there were 4,291 accidents reported, a slight increase from two years previous. That's why it's so important to put safety measures into place. If you take steps to protect yourself, the harm from a negligent party can be significantly lessened. That starts with wearing a lifejacket and reading up on boat safety tips like maintaining a slow speed, staying vigilant, and saying no to alcoholic beverages before and while you're operating the vessel.

Finding Experienced Boat Accident Lawyers

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A day on the water shouldn't end with a lifetime of pain. If somebody decides to let themselves get distracted while operating a machine as powerful as a boat, they should be held accountable for their negligence. Ultimately, the responsibility shouldn't fall on you when somebody turns a relaxing day into a nightmare. Here at Blase Inzina Injury Attorneys, we stop at nothing to get justice for our clients and we stop at nothing to hold people responsible for their wrongdoings. Nobody has the right to jeopardize your safety on the water and take you away from the most important things in your life. Along the way, we've seen just about every boating injury there is to see. It is from these insights that we're able to move forward with your case in a more effective manner than your average attorney.

We've been diligently handling injury cases for the last 15 years, and we've been able to help countless clients just like you get back to their passions. We will work tirelessly to help you find your own version of peace again. Whether you're looking to receive a settlement for your pain and suffering or you need help getting social security disability to help keep you afloat, we will do everything in our power to let your voice be heard. To find out more about what we can do to help you or someone you care about, give us a call today at (337) 347-7177 to speak to an attorney. We'll be standing by to help you get back to normal again.