Common reasons why boaters have accidents

One thing that many New Yorkers look forward to doing over the summer is getting out on the water in their boats. This uptick in water vessels during this time of the year doesn’t come without dangers. There are some common reasons why individuals get hurt while at sea during this time of the year.

The summer brings with it a higher risk of you encountering rough seas. This may be brought about by an increase in high winds and thunderstorms during this time of the year. Speeding in treacherous waters can make your journey more unsafe.

If you’re planning to head out to sea, then you should take time to check the forecast. You may want to avoid setting sail if the day is shaping up to be quite windy or if there’s inclement weather in the forecast.

You should make sure that the person operating your boat is well-prepared for the unexpected. One of the best things that you can do both before you leave the dock is to check to make sure that all safety gear is present. You’ll need to be able to quickly access it if you come upon poor weather.

Another factor that is often to blame for boat accidents is equipment failure. You should keep your boat well maintained. This means that you should regularly inspect your water vessel’s steering and communication system, its engine, navigation lights and rescue capabilities to ensure that they’re all functioning at their peak.

You should abstain from operating a boat if you have been drinking. You also shouldn’t ever speed. It’s against the law to operate a boat with a blood alcohol content of over 0.08%. Your motor skills aren’t acute enough to do so effectively. Speeding boaters often fail to yield to their right of way. This often results in unnecessary T-bone collisions.

There can be a lot of boats in and around the marina during the summer. The uptick in traffic in these areas can make boater more apt to have an accident. It’s not uncommon for boaters to be ejected overboard when these incidents occur. Many collisions such as these are often fatal. A boating accidents attorney will want to review the details surrounding your collision before advising you whether you may be eligible to file suit demanding damages in your Manhattan case.