About Boating Accidents

When the temperature goes up so does the number of people who participate in recreational activities on the waterways in North Carolina. From the lakes to the beaches many people meet to have fun in the sun during the spring and summer months. While the aim of any trip to a waterway may be to have fun and cool down, situations present themselves for accidents.

Water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, fishing, swimming, or simply lounging on a pontoon boat can all turn bad if one person is neglectful in their duty of being responsible for the operation of their boat or personal watercraft. The owner and/ or operator of any vessel has the responsibility of making sure their craft is up to working order and is operated in a safe manner. Being intoxicated while operating a marine vessel or allowing someone who is under age and/or inexperienced are also a breach of their responsibility.

For more information see North Carolina Boating Statutes.

While there is no such thing as a safe accident, many variables come into play while on water that can make the situation worse. The presence of water makes brain trauma, and of course, drowning a reality if a person is not attended to fast enough after the injury has occurred. For more information on safe boating activities, please see our section on Boating Safety & Information Links.

A 2007 Study by the Coast Guard cited the top 5 following reasons for boating accidents:

Operator inattention
Careless / reckless operation
Passenger/ skier behavior
Excessive speed
Alcohol Involvement

The report can be viewed at: http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2007.pdf

In North Carolina the following rules apply to reporting accidents:

Cases that must be reported within 48 hours:

Death
Personal Injury beyond first aid
Disappearance

Cases that must be reported with in 10 days:

Damage greater than $500
Any other accidents

Laws that are associated with boating accidents are very complex. Compounded with an injury or personal loss the process can become very stressful and you may need someone with experience to help you along the way. When someone is injured or a loved one has died while on a waterway contact a Raleigh boating accident attorney and let them help you relieve some of the stress in dealing with the legal issues.

Contact one of our North Carolina boating accident lawyers at Hardison & Associates to help you gain the maximum for the harm that has been caused to you. Hire a firm that is experienced and makes it happen by putting you first.

Boating Accidents Questions & Answers
Safety & Information Links
NC Boating Statutes
NC Boating Accident Stats
Boating Accident News
Boating Accidents Glossary

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What To Do Right After An Accident?

Having an accident can be a very stressful situation whether you are injured or not. However, there are a few things you can do right after an accident to make the ordeal a little less stressful. First, at the scene get as much information as you can about the other party. Get the driver’s name, address, phone number and license plate number. If there are any witnesses that saw the accident and come to check on you, get the witness’s name, address and phone number. Many times witnesses leave before the police arrive. However, if you have this information you can give it to the police officer and she/he can follow-up with the witness if there is a dispute as to what happened in the accident.

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