Texas is an incredible state for boating. Great weather and great family fun go hand in hand. Because of this, you’ll see that quite a few boaters on the waters when you decide to go to the lake for the weekend. This is one of the reasons why boating laws need to be taken so seriously.
A boating accident takes place when one or more individuals are injured as a result of a boat failure, collision, or any other happening that causes the boat in question to fail. As defined by the United States Coast Guard, a boating accident takes place when a boat passenger dies or becomes seriously injured, a boat passenger disappears and death/injury is heavily suspected, or a vessel causes or sustains damage.
Boating is a great recreational activity that nearly everyone enjoys, but accidents can happen when you’re on the water. Boating accidents need to be taken seriously, as they can result in personal property damage, personal injury, or even fatality. Texas has plenty of boating enthusiasts, but we also have quite a few boaters who do not operate their vessel responsibly. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division, Texas had the fifth most alcohol-related boating accidents.
Boating while intoxicated is against the law, but it continues to happen at an alarming rate. This is in part due to the fact that open containers in boats are still legal. Though boat operators are subject to the same DWI and DUI laws as drivers, unlike auto motorists, you are not breaking the law if you have an open container of alcohol on your vehicle.
Individuals tend to forget that boating requires you to literally drive a vehicle. It can be easy to become relaxed when you’re out on the open water with, but boat operators should remember that they are controlling machinery that can exceed 50 miles per hour. There is never any excuse for reckless boating or drunk boating that results in serious injury or death.
Boating while intoxicated is a very common cause of boating accidents, but did you know that inexperienced boaters also cause a large portion of all boating accidents? Only individuals who are trained and experienced should operate a boat in Texas. Boats are more powerful than many assume, and it can be very dangerous for an inexperienced boater to take the controls. Inability to navigate obstructions and safely control speed can cause serious accidents that will result in much more than just a damaged boat and some property damage.
Regardless of their experience levels, boaters have a responsibility to safely operate their machine. If they are unable to do this due to inexperience, inebriation, or any other type of hinderance, they must make the decision to forgo their operational duties and allow someone more capable to take the wheel. Unfortunately, it very rarely happens like this. Many boating enthusiasts don’t understand the experience it requires to properly operate a boat. Because of this, your weekend getaway to Canyon Lake might end up being a little bit more dangerous than expected.
Hypothermia is another potential injury caused by boating accidents. Texas waters can be much colder than you may realize. Because of this, individuals who end up falling off a boat can suffer from serious cases of hypothermia. This is defined as a medical emergency that occurs when the human body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing the body temperature to drop to dangerously low levels. In its most severe cases, hypothermia can lead to death; your body’s heart, nervous system, and other vital organs cannot operate properly without a healthy body temperature.
Commonly referred to as swimmer’s ear, otitis externa is an extremely common infection of the outer ear canal that extends from the eardrum to the outside of the head. This type of infection is typically caused by a swimmer retaining water in their eyes. During your bout with this illness, be sure to keep the ear dry and used prescribed ear drops if your doctor gave them to you.
Recreational boating statistics provide us with excellent information pertaining to Texas boating accidents. Individuals who frequently operate boats need to be more aware of the boating laws of Texas and the events surrounding them.
Maryland, Utah, Washington, and Alabama were the only states that had more alcohol-related boating accidents than Texas in 2019.
The U.S. sales revenue of all boats, marine products and serviced was estimated to be upwards of $42 billion dollars in the year 2019. This year brought out a large number of Americans who were interested in becoming boat owners. The number of purchased powerboats in 2019 exceeded 280,000 units, which was the second highest amount of boats sold in the country since 2007.
Avoid the mistake of hiring the wrong personal injury attorney. In today’s world, there are so many lawyers for you to choose from, but not all of them are a great fit. You probably have dozens of Houston personal injury lawyers all vying for your business, but do all of them have experience representing plaintiffs involved in a boating accident case?
Our attorneys will negotiate with the defense on your behalf in an attempt to procure the settlement amount we feel is appropriate. However, we have no problem taking things to trial if the negotiations are stalled and stifled. Our lawyers are always prepared to step in to a court of law to defend our clients. Our number one goal is to provide you with the full compensation you deserve, and we won’t let a lengthy trial get in the way of that.
At Pusch & Nguyen, no personal injury is too tough to handle. Boat accidents may not be quite as common as automobile collisions, but they are still a point of concern for so many Texans. Our qualified attorneys have years of experience and have taken on countless cases, many of which involved Houston boat accidents. With a 99% success rate and a strong reputation of never backing down to large corporations, Pusch & Nguyen Law Firm can provide you with the legal representation you need. For more information on how we can help your case, call us today at 713-597-8420.