Good news for all boat owners- statistics are showing that the pleasure boat maritime industry has become safer than ever! According to the 2017 Recreational Boating Statistics, released by the U.S. Coast Guard, fatal boat accidents have decreased across the nation. The 2017 report notes a marked decrease in please boat accidents: In 2017, the nation experienced a 6.8% drop in boat fatality rates compared to 2016. In 2017, there were 4,291 pleasure boat accidents in America that involved 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries, and around $46 million dollars of property damage. The average of these fatalities shows that America’s boat accident fatality rate was about 5.5 deaths for every 100,000 registered recreational vessels, a significant decline compared to 2016. In fact, compared to 2016, in 2017 the number of accidents decreased 3.9%, the number of deaths dropped by 6.1%, and the amount of injuries decreased 9.4%. Unfortunately, these boating accidents do occur. Irwin Law Firm is a boating accident lawyer near Miami who will take care of your boating accident Florida residents trust. Call us today for a consultation regarding your maritime legal issues.
Boating Accident Statistics
There are several important statistics to be aware of when it comes to boating accidents in the U.S. Firstly, let’s discuss the major cause of death for most boat accidents. 76% of fatal boat accident victims passed away from drowning in the cases where cause of death could be determined. 84.5% of these drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket, when life jacket usage was taken into account. In terms of contributory causes in fatal boat accidents, alcohol was the leading factor. Alcohol was also the leading contributing factor in pleasure boat accident fatalities where the primary cause was found. The primary contributing factors for boating accidents included operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure, and alcohol use. Excessive speed, weather, violation of navigation rules, and hazardous waters were also factors. Top boat accident lawyer Irwin Law Firm notes that as a boat operator it is essential to keep these contributing factors in mind. You can be put in serious liability under the maritime law if you fail to adhere to these reasons, as you will be in violation of Coast Guard regulations. Consider the following: never drink and drive while operating a pleasure boat, keep tabs on carbon monoxide levels, make sure you’re certified in boat safety, make sure your passengers are complying with life jacket rules, have a free vessel safety check performed regularly, pay full attention when operating, and know and follow nautical rules.
Boating Accident Florida Statistics
When it comes to analyzing fatal boat accidents in each state, Florida comes in first with 10% and Texas follows closely with 9.6% of the country’s fatal boat accidents. Fatal boat accidents in Michigan came in third at 3% of the total, 2.3%of fatal boat accidents happen in Illinois.
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Now that you’ve learned about boating accident Florida statistics, and know about the various causes of boating fatalities, you should be more informed when you go on the water. Irwin Law Firm is a top boat accident lawyer near Miami. Call us today for your maritime legal needs!