Boating Accident Lawyer in Phoenix

There are numerous causes of boating accidents, of course, but a great many of them are preventable. Statistics show that the majority of these accidents are caused by operator inexperience or inattention. Eighty-four percent of all boating fatalities that occur on boats happen where operators have not completed a boating safety education course. Other reasons for boating accidents include:

• Lack of experience for boat operators
• Recklessness/careless boat operation
• Operator inattention
• Operating at an unsafe speeds
• No proper lookout

Another serious cause of boating accidents is the consumption of alcohol while operating a boat. This accounts for nearly one-third of all recreational boating fatalities, and is, in fact, the number one cause of boating accident deaths. Because the effects of alcohol are magnified while on the water, intoxicated boaters are more than ten times as likely to be killed in a boating accident because of diminished coordination, dehydration, susceptibility to hypothermia, and impaired judgment.

In Arizona, Just like driving a car, it is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or barbiturates, so the penalties are stiff, and could include fines, prison time, community service, mandatory substance abuse counseling, and more.

Additional Considerations

When operating a recreational vessel, steps can be taken to prevent a boating accident or to minimize the damage if an accident occurs:

• Always wear life jackets and dress for possible immersion.
• Be aware that cold weather is more dangerous: there are fewer boaters and patrols to rescue those in distress, and the water is much colder.
• Do not drink alcohol while on the water.
• When in larger bodies of water, take advantage of available distress-alerting and position-indicating technologies.

If and when a boating accident does occur, the operator of a boat in the state of Arizona is required to file an accident report with the proper authorities. For example, if any of the following conditions occur you must report:

• A life is lost due to the accident
• Someone sustains an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid
• Property damage, or of course, complete loss of the vessel
• A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury

The law says that if the operator is unable to file the report, the owner must file. In Arizona, death and injury reports must be filed within 48 hours and damage reports must be filed within 10 days.

Boating accidents, as we’ve said, can and do happen for many reasons, but if you are the victim of an accident because of someone else’s negligence you are entitled to fair and reasonable compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident due to the negligence of another, contact the personal injury attorneys at Alcock & Associates, P.C today, we can help.

We can help with all types of claims including auto accident claims, personal injury insurance claims, medical insurance claims, fire insurance claims and more. Call today and let us know how we can help!