Boat Accident Basics

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the primary reason for boat accidents is operator error, rather than mechanical problems, weather, or other external factors. 

The specific causes of avoidable boat accidents include:

• Careless or reckless operation
• Excessive speed
• Failure to keep a careful lookout
• Inexperienced or untrained operation
• Alcohol
• Failure to wear a life jacket
• Careless behavior by passengers

The most common types of fatal boat accidents are:

• Capsizing
• Falling overboard
• Flooding and swamping 
  

Regardless of the cause of the accident, an individual has a significantly higher chance of survival, if he or she is wearing a life jacket.  In fact, 80% of all fatal boating accidents involved a victim without a life jacket. 

The danger of death increases if the victim was drinking.  Tragically, a boat operator or passenger with a blood alcohol level of .10 or higher is ten times more likely to die, if he or she gets into an accident.