Even A Pleasure Cruise Should Be Prepared For
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
With warm, sunny weather and tropical waters all around the majority of the state, it’s no surprise that one of the major pastimes for both Florida residents and visitors is boating. There’s nothing quite like being on a boat and taking in the sights on the ocean. Unfortunately, the very popularity of boating in Florida also means that the state has a much higher percentage of people on the ocean, in watercraft, than the vast majority of other states in the USA. This results in a higher likelihood of a boating accident, either through human error when operating the boat, or through a collision with another boater. We’re prepared to help Florida residents to deal with the legal aspects of a boating accident personal injury case. But do you know what to do and how to prepare for a boating accident?There’s No Such Thing As Too Prepared
People who are going out for a cruise in a water for just a short trip often think this means not having to do much other than show up for a boat ride. While it’s true that passengers aren’t expected to make many contributions to the actual operation of a boat, that doesn’t mean that owner can take it easy because a trip is short. Life jackets for example, are required by law to be present on any watercraft, though who should be wearing one at all times is variable. Children, for example, must wear a lifejacket at all times on any watercraft less than 26 feet in length.
Another important aspect of boat travel is communication, which can save lives in the event that something goes wrong. Some people believe that in the 21st century, with the ubiquity of cellular phones, just bringing a phone along with you should be sufficient to “dial 911” in the event of an emergency. However, depending on the distance traveled by a boat, you can easily leave the range of cellular tower communication and your phone may no longer receive a signal. More importantly, phones are small and easily dropped or misplaced. Should they get wet, most will not be water resistant and thus fail to operate. A radio is an important safety device in case you need to get in contact with authorities for assistance, rescue, recovery, or any other emergency while on the water.
Get Proper Training
Do you know what to do if you fall overboard in your boat? Do you know what to do if someone else does? If your boat runs aground, what is the most sensible course of action? What should you do if you find a puncture, hole or other form of penetration to your boat where water is being taken in? And what should you do if you find someone else is ignoring your warnings, and, because they are drunk, their boat collides into your boat?
In these situations, even if something or someone else is responsible for the mishap, you should still know how to react in such a situation. It could mean the difference between a boating accident where you take the offending party to court, or, more tragically, a wrongful death suit where you are suing someone else for the tragic loss of life of someone close to you.