What Are the Most Common Causes of Boating Accidents?
There’s so much to enjoy if you live in Daytona Beach or Palm Coast, FL. The weather and the location make this area a great place for people who enjoy getting out on the water on their boats or jet skis. Commercial water vessels are also common in this area. Unfortunately, boating injuries and maritime accidents can happen. In some cases, they are avoidable.
The lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau would like to look at seven common reasons that maritime accidents happen. We’ll then discuss if it’s worth pursuing legal action.
1. Bad Weather
Sometimes an accident on the water is the result of bad weather and other natural disasters. Before you embark on a nice outing on the water or a commercial venture, it’s crucial that you keep tabs on the weather.
2. Poor Design of the Vessel
Sometimes the boat, ship, or jet ski being used is inherently unsafe. This could be due to design defects or quality control failures. If these factors contribute to a maritime accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit for dangerous design or faulty manufacturing.
3. Failure to Comply with Safety Regulations
There are a number of safety regulations that apply to passenger vessels as well as cargo ships. When these safety regulations are ignored or disregarded, they could contribute to an accident or lead to more serious injuries when an accident happens.
4. Crew Member Fatigue
Long hours and strenuous work can take their toll on crew members. This can lead to a lack of attention or an inability to perform certain tasks to the best of one’s ability. The health and wellness of crew members should always be accounted for to remain safe on the water.
5. Inexperience Operating a Water Vessel
It is not easy to operate a passenger ship or cargo vessel. A lack of experience by the captain or even crew members could make a trip on the water potentially hazardous. In the case of commercial boating and shipping, one may hold a company liable for their hiring practices if inexperience contributed to a maritime accident.
6. Drinking Alcohol or Using Drugs
The use of drugs and alcohol can lead to different kinds of accidents on the water. The captain of a passenger vessel or cargo ship could take unnecessary risks due to the use of controlled substances. An intoxicated person on a jet ski may be reckless.
7. Wet and Slippery Surfaces
If the deck or any steps are wet, that increases the risk of lost footing and a potentially disastrous fall. On cruise ships, you may be able to file a slip, trip, and fall injury lawsuit if wet surfaces caused you to lose footing.
How Our Law Firm Can Help You
If you’ve been injured at sea or experienced the death of a loved one due to negligence, it’s crucial to discuss your case with a lawyer. An attorney can review the circumstances of what occurred and determine if it’s worth filing a lawsuit.
Our skilled personal injury attorneys can discuss all of your legal options during a consultation. We will help negotiate a fair settlement or, if needed, take your maritime accident case all the way to trial.
Were You Injured in a Maritime Accident? Contact Our Law Firm Today
Get the legal counsel you need as soon as possible. Our lawyers can get the litigation process moving quickly. Please contact our law firm today. You can also reach our attorneys by phone:
- Daytona Beach, FL - (866) 886-4813
- Palm Coast, FL - (386) 439-7760