Personal Injury Blog

Drop in Boating Accident Deaths in 2010

July 16th, 2011
boating accident death

19% of all boating accident due to alcohol use

The US Coast Guard has just released its report into boating accident deaths in 2010, and there’s encouraging news for Los Angeles boating accident attorneys.  The Coast Guard report indicates a record drop in boating accident fatalities last year.

According to the report, in 2010, there were a total of 672 recreational boating accident fatalities.  That was a drop of four fatalities from the previous record low recorded in 2004.  There was also a decline in the number of boating accidents reported in 2010.  Last year, there were a total of 4,604 boating accidents compared to 4,730 boating accidents in 2009.  It wasn’t just accidents and fatalities that were down last year.  There was also a decrease in the number of injuries recorded in boating accidents.  Last year, there were 3,153 injuries reported, down from 3,358 the previous year.

The Coast Guard is cautioning against excessive optimism at this decline in boating fatalities.  The figures for 2010 still denote a minimum of two boating accident fatalities per day, and that is still unacceptable to Los Angeles boating accident lawyers.

The Coast Guard report has many findings that are not really surprising to Los Angeles boating accident attorneys.  For instance, the report indicates that the number one factor in boating accident fatalities in 2010 was alcohol use.  Alcohol was named as a factor in approximately 19% of all boating accident fatalities in 2010.

Apart from alcohol use, operator inattention and improper look out were also named as factors in boating accidents last year.  In fact, operators play a big role in keeping themselves and the occupants of the boat safe.  Operator experience was another huge factor in boating accident fatalities.  This summer, when you’re out in the water, make sure that the person operating the boat is experienced, and has taken a proper boat safety training course.  The Coast guard statistics show that there’s a very close link between boating safety and whether the operator of the boat had undergone a boating safety program.  Persons who have undertaken a boating safety program are less likely to be involved in a boat accident.

Speeding is another major factor in boating accident fatalities in 2010.  Speeding is as dangerous on the water as on land, and increases the risk of high-impact accidents.  Besides, the Coast Guard report on boating accident fatalities also seems to confirm the need for persons to wear life-saving devices in the boat.  Approximately 75% of all victims in fatal boating accidents died from drowning.  Out of these, not surprisingly, 90% were not wearing a personal flotation device at the time.

A common thread running through almost all boating accidents in 2010 were how preventable these were.  These accidents could have been prevented if the boat operator had been sober, had been boating at safe speeds, and if the victim had been wearing a personal floatation device.

 

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