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Reporting a Boating Accident
from: Maxx Adventure TravelThe United States Coast Guard compiles comprehensive information regarding boating accidents in the United States based on accident reports filed out by boaters who've had a boating accident. There are specific regulations the USCG has set regarding the reporting of a boating accident.
A report of a boating accident must be made under the following conditions:
* Someone dies
* Someone is injured and requires medical treatment other than first aid
* Damage to a vessel is more than $2,000 or there's a total loss of a vessel
* Someone disappears from a vessel and circumstances indicate there may be a death or injury
If you're involved in a boating accident it should be reported within forty-eight hours. Regulations differ regarding the time frame, but responsible boaters deal with the situation as soon as possible.
In 2005, there were 267 fatalities directly related to a boating accident. Of those fatalities, 70% were due to drowning, and eight-seven of those who drowned likely did so because they weren't wearing a life jacket.
The most reported boating accident resulted from a collision with another vessel but capsizing and falls overboard were also among those most reported that contributed to the drowning fatalities overall.
Carelessness, reckless driving, operator inattention, excessive speed as well as operator inexperience all consistently contributed to boating accidents, which is why the Coast Guard recommends that all boaters take a certified boating safety class as well as qualified boating instruction classes.
The most common types of boats involved in boating accidents include open watercraft, personal watercrafts (Jet Skis) and cabin motorboats, but there was also a substantial increase in sailing accidents, houseboats and fishing boats.
Alcohol use is a major contributor to boating accidents because impaired captains tend to have a larger possibility of having accident due to poor judgment, inattention along with reckless behavior. Fully 25% of all boating accidents are directly related to the consumption of alcohol by the driver.
It a certainty that most boating accidents could be prevented if more boaters spent some time in a boating safety class to get proper boating training. Due to all the many factors involved in boating, it can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. To be a responsible boater, having the right knowledge with allow you to prevent a boating accident before it can happen. So get some education for the benefit and safety of yourself and all those who accompany you on your boat trips.
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