Many of us at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are avid boaters ourselves, so we are particularly concerned by boat safety on our waterways. Particularly in Chicago and other seasonal climates, we tend to see a rash of boat injuries every summer, when inexperienced boat drivers take to the water without much consideration of their passengers or people sharing the water around them.
Operators of boats and other personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis or Ski-Doos, have a responsibility to safely operate their watercraft and protect both their passengers as well as other people around them on the water.
Primary causes of boating injuries include:
- Lack of training
- Intoxication
- Driving too fast for the circumstances
- Using old or improper equipment
- Failing to keep a proper lookout
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers recognizes that many boat injuries involve the negligence of family and friends. Our goal remains to obtain the most compensation for our clients, yet it remains the ultimate decision of the client to settle a boat injury case directly with an insurance company or pursue the case through trial.
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Boating, tubing, and other water sports and activities can provide fun and enjoyment for families when the weather is warm. However, these pleasurable activities can also be dangerous for young children, resulting in injury or even death.
According to statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, injuries and property damages related to boating accidents can not be ignored:
- In 2009, there were 4,370 boating accidents causing 3,358 injuries and 736 deaths and $36 million in damages to property.
- 86% of boating accident deaths involved boat operator did not have any boat safety instruction or course.
- Nearly 75% of all boating fatalities were caused by drowning, and 84% were not wearing a life jacket.
As the operator of a boat, the driver of the craft is commonly referred to as the ‘master of the ship’ and is responsible for the safety of his passengers on-board and those in tow on water skis or tubes.
While the ‘master of the ship’ phrase be be truthful in a significant number of situations, relying simply on a phrase or even common sense is rarely enough to successfully prove boating injury cases to an insurance company or jury.