If I’m involved in a boat accident, what should I do?
How common are boating accident
fatalities?
Are there safety measures that I can take to prevent an
accident?
How can carbon monoxide poisoning occur on
a boat?
What are the most common boating accident
injuries?
Do more accidents occur in smaller
boats?
What are the most common causes of boating
accidents?
What age group has the highest incidence of
boating fatalities?
What are common boating accident
contributing factors?
Under what
circumstances do I need to file a boating accident report and is there a time
frame in which I have to file the report?
Do boating accidents cause a lot of financial
damage?
If I’ve been in an accident should I
consult with an attorney?
What is The Jones Act?
What is the definition of a
“Seaman?”
What is “Maritime Law?”
If I’m involved in a boat accident, what should I do?
Remain on
the scene, render aid, and report the accident. If someone was injured or
extensive property damage was incurred be sure to contact your insurance
company. If someone else was responsible for the collision, you may want to
contact an attorney.
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How common are boating accident
fatalities?
In 2000, more than 700 deaths occurred due to boating
accidents.
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Are there safety measures that I can take to prevent an
accident?
- Wear a life jacket
- Don’t drink alcohol while boating
- Take an educational boating course
- Be sure to regularly check your safety
equipment
- Be alert to the possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning
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How can carbon monoxide poisoning occur on
a boat?
- Air conditioning powered by an onboard motor
generator
- Operation of any gasoline powered engine while
docked or rafted to other boats operating engines
- Improper cabin ventilation
- Use of stern swim platform while the engine and
exhaust are on
- Teak/drag surfing- holding on to the swim platform
while the boat is underway
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What are the most common boating accident
injuries?
Lacerations and broken bones.
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Do more accidents occur in smaller
boats?
Yes. 83% of fatalities in 2000 occurred on boats which were less
than 26 feet in length.
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What are the most common causes of boating
accidents?
Capsizing of the boat, falls off the boat, collisions with
other boats.
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What age group has the highest incidence of
boating fatalities?
Ages 34-39
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What are common boating accident
contributing factors?
Operator inattention, inexperience, speed,
carelessness, recklessness, alcohol, and bad weather.
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Under what
circumstances do I need to file a boating accident report and is there a time
frame in which I have to file the report?
You must file a report
if:
- A fatality occurs
- Someone is injured and requires medical treatment
beyond common first aid
- There is a complete loss of the boat or damage to
that exceeds $500
Boating Accident Reports are required to be filed
within:
- 48 hours of the occurrence or if a person dies
within one day following the accident
- 48 hours if a person is injured and medical
treatment beyond first aid is required
- 10 days if there is only property damage
involved
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Do boating accidents cause a lot of financial
damage?
According to the US Coast Guard, boating accidents cause almost
$30 million dollars in property damage each year.
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If I’ve been in an accident should I
consult with an attorney?
Yes. The laws that apply to injuries that occur
on and around the water are complex and there are several questions that must be
analyzed in order to correctly to determine the value of a boating injury claim.
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What is The Jones Act?
The Jones
Act has special rules that protect seaman and make recovery of certain damages
and benefits easier.
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What is the definition of a
“Seaman?”
Basically, if you earn your living at sea, you are a seaman. A
person whose work is covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers'
Compensation Act may be treated as a Jones Act seaman in some cases.
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What is “Maritime Law?”
Maritime
law, often called Admiralty law, is a set of legal rules and practices governing
the business of employment and transportation of people and goods over or near
navigable waters. To fall within maritime jurisdiction, the act causing the
accident must have occurred on "navigable waters." Navigable waters is a legal
term describing all waters which are capable of transporting people or cargo
between the states and other countries. Essentially it means the waterway must
be usable as a highway for interstate commerce.
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