Boating Injuries

Boating for recreation is one of the most popular pastimes in the state of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, with so many boats out on the water, there have been many boating accidents resulting in injuries. When someone is hurt on a boat, or from a boat, the premise liability laws and personal injury laws pertaining to the case can get a bit tricky, depending on where the accident took place, how the injury occurred, and who the injured party was. The experienced premise liability and personal injury lawyers at Burns & Jain can help sort through the legalities of such a case.

Tips to Avoid Boating Injuries

It is important for you to be as safety conscious as possible when in a boat on the water. Although accidents can happen to anyone, preparing before each trip and being safe during your outing can possibly save lives. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe on the water:

Always wear a life jacket, no matter how well you can swim.
Limit your consumption of alcohol, even as a passenger. As many as 50% of teen and adult deaths on the water each year are associated with alcohol use.
Never operate a boat while drinking. In the state of Massachusetts, there are heavy penalties for boating while intoxicated. For just the first offense, you can face prison time, large fines, and the loss of your license and boat registration for as much as a year. If you cause an accident while boating under the influence, the penalties can be even more, especially if someone is killed.
Keep track of the weather and do not go out when heavy winds and storms are expected.
Always have someone with you. No one should go out on the water alone.
Always check your motor and other equipment, such as radio, gauges, etc.
Keep a cell phone with you in addition to any marine radio.
Make sure someone on land knows your boating trip plans.
Take caution, even when the boat isn’t running. Almost half of all boating injuries happen when the boat is drifting, anchored, or docked.

Accidents Which Cause Boating Injuries

There are several different types of accidents that can cause boating injuries. Operating a boat can be just as serious as driving a car and can cause injuries, which are, just as horrific in the case of an accident. Some of the most common causes of boating injuries include:

Boats colliding into one another
Boats crashing into a building, dock, or other object
Passengers falling overboard
Flooding and/or swamping
Accidents which occur during water skiing, or wake boarding
Boats hitting marine animals or other obstacles
Boats traveling too fast and flipping

These kinds of accidents can lead to boating injuries for anyone at anytime on the water. Boating injuries can happen on ferries, water taxis, sailboats, whale watching vessels, crab fishing boats, charter boats, jet skis, paddle boats, harbor cruises and even large cruise ships. Whether it is a small fishing boat, or a huge ship, the attorneys at Burns & Jain can help determine whether or not a premise liability lawsuit, or personal negligence lawsuit may be in order. They have experience with marine insurance companies and homeowner insurance companies to get compensation for any time loss from work, medical bills, pain and suffering and other financial hardships caused by injuries sustained from boating accidents. Please call us today for your always free consultation to see if we may be able to help you too.