Unfortunately, these numbers don’t seem to be going anywhere. Year after year, boating accidents continue to be a major cause of serious injuries. When an individual is involved in a boating accident, they are usually thrown from the boat and into the water. Their ability to swim properly may not have been taken into account before the boat ride because most people don’t plan for a boat accident to take place. That’s why they’re so tragic. Even if they are a great swimmer, they can find themselves with broken arms or legs that hinder them from being able to move properly. Even worse, head injuries could render them completely unconscious. While that is serious enough when it happens on land, an unconscious person in the water can quickly succumb to the elements. When in the water, hazardous chemicals can pool around them or they can be left at the mercy of the elements around them, which are often not kind. Combine all of this with not wearing a life jacket, and the injuries can be quite severe. Broken bones, head trauma, and paralysis are all quite common due to the sheer power behind boating accidents. Especially if two boats collide.
If two boats of any size run into each other, the results can be devastating in an instant. As most boats inherently don’t have the reaction time or turning power of other vehicles, it’s easy to see why so many of these accidents take place. If one person decides that they aren’t going to practice proper safety measures, countless other people can have their lives changed forever. In 2017, with around 12 million boats being registered, the studies show that there were 4,291 accidents reported, a slight increase from two years previous. That’s why it’s so important to put safety measures into place. If you take steps to protect yourself, the harm from a negligent party can be significantly lessened. That starts with wearing a lifejacket and reading up on boat safety tips like maintaining a slow speed, staying vigilant, and saying no to alcoholic beverages before and while you’re operating the vessel.