Each year states are required to file a report with the United States
Coast Guard indicating the number of recreational boats registered and
the number of boating accidents and fatalities which occurred in their
jurisdiction. From these numbers the Coast Guard compiles the annual
Report of Certificates of Number Issued to Boats.
The number of injuries and accidents are broken down by size of the
boat, type of material used for the hull, and type of propulsion. In
addition to yearly statistics the Coast Guard publishes statistics for
the previous ten to fifteen years to chart trends among users of
recreational boats.
GATHERING DATA FOR BOATING ACCIDENTS AND ASSOCIATED FATALITIES
When reading the annual report it is important to keep in mind there
are limitations to the data collected. Fatalities may occur on boats
which have not been registered, and there are slight differences
between state’s registration laws. Rather than looking at the total
number of fatalities for the year, it is more accurate to look at the
number of fatalities for each category of registered boats. Categories
of registered boats include motorboats, personal watercraft, cabin
motorboats, sailboats, and houseboats.
DEFINE RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENT
In order for the state to label an accident involving a boat as a
recreational boating accident there are certain criteria which must be
met. First, and most obvious, the boat must be used for recreational
purposes and not involved in commercial work. Secondly, the boat must
also be involved in:
- Collision with another boat or object
- Electrocution
- Fire or explosion
- Sinking
- Person ejected from boat or leaves the boat to swim while the boat is not docked
- Flooding or capsizing
- Carbon monoxide asphyxiation
WHEN TO FILE A RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENT REPORT
An operator of a recreational boat must file an accident report if a
person dies or is injured beyond what can be treated with normal first
aid, if there is damage to the boat or other property totaling more
than $2,000, or someone disappears from the boat under mysterious
circumstances. The operator of a recreational boat is not required to
file an accident report if damage done to persons or property was done
while the boat was docked. If the injury was the result of someone
leaving the boat to take a swim, the operator must be able to prove
that the boat was securely docked and used only as a platform for the
swimmer.
DROWNING IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF FATALITY MOSTLY DUE TO NO LIFE JACKET WORN
The most common type of fatality reported each year is from drowning.
In 2005 nearly seventy percent of all fatalities reported to the Coast
Guard were the result of drowning. Of those fatalities reported,
eighty-seven percent of those that drowned were not wearing their
personal floatation devices (PFD/life jackets). The Coast Guard reports
that of the 697 persons who drowned last year, nearly 426 could have
been saved by taking time to put on a life jacket.
CAPSIZING AND FALLING OVERBOARD ARE MOST REPORTED ACCIDENTS FROM RECREATIONAL BOATS
The most reported accidents involving recreational boats are capsizing
and persons falling overboard. The Coast Guard attributes these types
of accidents to poor knowledge of boating safety, overloading boats
beyond capacity, and inexperience of the operator. Excessive speed and
alcohol are also contributing factors which lead to nearly one-quarter
of the reported boating fatalities each year.
STATISTICS ON BOATING ACCIDENTS FROM DIFFERENT STATES
Looking at the reported statistics, those states bordering water (and
especially the Atlantic and Pacific oceans) had higher reported
fatalities and accidents. There were more reported fatalities and
overall boating accidents in larger states. For example, Kansas
reported twenty-four total accidents in 2005 with four fatalities.
Property damage resulting from recreational boating accidents in Kansas
in 2005 totaled close to $74,000. Florida boating accidents totaled 603
in 2005 and 78 people were fatally injured. Property damage in Florida
resulting from recreational boating accidents totaled over $5,000,000.
Maryland boating accidents in 2005 totaled 183, with 15 people killed
and over $1,000,000 in property damage.
HOW TO ENSURE A SAFE BOATING EXPERIENCE
The key to a safe boating experience is to make yourself aware of the
boat you are operating, all regulations and guidelines of boating
safety and procedures, the waters you plan on navigating, and ensuring
each of your passengers is wearing a lifejacket. A boating accident is
considered personal injury, and if you have been a victim of a
recreational boating accident it is important to seek the expertise of
a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer may be able to help
you recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and
damage to personal property caused by a recreational boating accident.
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