Habbas & Associates

Because Experience Matters

CALIFORNIA BOATING ACCIDENTS

California law governs the operation of motor boats similar to the operation of a motor vehicle. Failing to comply with the law can be a significant factor in determining fault in the event of a boating accident. As with automobile accidents, California law allows fault to be assessed from 1% - 99% to any party. If you have been in a boating accident and believe you may be partly at fault, you still may be entitled to compensation.

Boating Accident Statistics

According to the United States Coast Guard:

• In 2005, States and jurisdictions reported a total of 12,942,414 registered
  recreational boats compared to 12,781,476 in 2004. The 4,969 boating
  accidents reported in 2005 resulted in 697 fatalities, 3,451 injuries, and
  $38,721,088 in property damage.
  
• Approximately seventy percent of all fatal boating accident victims
  drowned (491 out of 697). Moreover, eighty-seven (87) percent of the victims
  who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD or
  life jacket. Overall, fatal accident data show approximately 426 lives could
  have been saved last year if boaters had worn their life jackets.
  
• The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel.
  However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal
  accidents and accounted for the vast majority (59%) of all boating fatalities.
  Boat operators need to pay attention to the capacity label on their boat and be
  careful not to overload small boats (less than 16 feet) with passengers and/or
  gear.
  
• Overall, carelessness/reckless operation, operator inattention, excessive
  speed and operator inexperience are the leading contributing factors of all
  reported accidents.
  
• The most common types of boats involved in reported accidents were
  open motorboats (45%), personal watercraft (PWC) (26%) and cabin
  motorboats (14%). Increases were observed in the number of reported
  fatalities involving PWC (65), cabin motorboats (54), inflatables (22), sailboats
  (16), and houseboats (10) from 2004. A decrease was observed in the number
  of fatalities involving canoes/kayaks (78) and rowboats (39) from the number
  of fatalities reported in 2004.
  
• The number of reported non-fatal injuries (1,007) involving PWC use
  increased for the first time since 1996.
  
• Twenty-one (21) children age 12 and under lost their lives while boating
  in 2005 compared to 14 children in 2004.
  
• Approximately 70% of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the
  operator had not received boating safety instruction.
  
• Alcohol use was either a direct or indirect contributing factor in
  approximately one-quarter of all boating fatalities in 2005.

Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one have been injured in a boating accident, please contact us toll-free at (866) 995-9993 for a free case evaluation. There is no fee unless we obtain money for you.