Boating Safety

As Tucson and Phoenix boating accident lawyers, my Zanes Law team helps hundreds of clients each year who have been injured in preventable accidents. So as we move into the heart of the Arizona summer and the Arizona heat, I believe that it is extremely important to talk about boating accident prevention and safety. Many Arizonans own wave runners and boats, and they head to one of the many lakes in Arizona or the cool waters of San Diego, Rocky Point, or San Carlos when it gets a little too hot. Besides, going to the lake is lots of fun. Who doesn't want to feel the sun on their face, the wind in their hair, and the cool spray from the water? Unfortunately, it's easy to leave safety behind. According to the United States Coast Guard, there were 709 fatal boating accidents in 2008. Nearly two-thirds of these wrongful deaths were caused by drowning. Of those, 90% were not wearing a life jacket.

At Zanes Law we want your boating trip to be a safe one. So here are five things that you need to know before you go:

1. Be prepared: Have at least one US Coast Guard-approved/UL-Listed personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board and make sure that each life jacket is appropriate for each passenger's height and weight. Life jacket requirements and information can be found at www.uscgboating.org ;
2. No substitutions allowed: Inflatable toys, rafts, and other devices that are not approved by the US Coast Guard or UL as flotation devices should not be used as a substitute for a PFD;
3. Do not overload your boat: Capsizing and falls overboard are the most common cause of fatal accidents and account for more than half of all boating fatalities;
4. Take a safety course: Approximately 90 percent of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction;
5. Drink responsibly: Alcohol was listed as the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2008. Sun and dehydration can heighten the effects of alcohol, so be aware and drink responsibly.

Zanes Law personal injury attorneys represent people who have been injured in all types of accidents. So if you have been injured and need help, call the personal injury attorneys at Zanes Law, a leading personal injury and car accident law firm, at 520-777-7777 or 866-430-2585 for a free initial evaluation.