Stay safe this summer: 2011 recreational boating accident statistics

Our Galveston boating injury attorneys present some of last year’s recreational boating accident statistics, as compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), to remind you to take all reasonable safety precautions this year as you enjoy the water. Historically, ugly fatalities and severe injuries from personal watercraft (PWCs, commonly called “jet skis”) have been one of the greatest threats to all users of the water. Blunt force trauma is the most common type of fatal and non-fatal injury in PWC accidents.

While the actual numbers of PWC accidents have continued to rise as the numbers of PWCs in use has risen, the relative numbers of PWC accidents in relation to other boating accidents seem to have declined slightly in recent years. Our Galveston boating injury attorneys list below are some of the more significant statistics from the Coast Guard’s 79-page report:

• Overall, 2011 saw 4588 reportable recreational boating accidents, of which 758 were fatal and 3081 caused injuries. (A section in the USCG provides a list of those accidents considered non-reportable.)
• Recreational boating accidents led to $52 million in property damage in 2011.
• In comparison to 2010, the number of deaths from the reportable accidents increased 12.8%, although the number of accidents decreased by 0.35% overall. The number of injuries decreased 2.3%.
• 8 of every 10 boaters that drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. PWCs average about 13 feet in length.
• The USCG lists the top 5 causes of recreational boating accidents as: operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and machinery failure.
• Alcohol was listed as the leading contributing factor in the fatal accidents, responsible for 16% of the deaths.
• 70% of victims who died in fatal accidents drowned. 84% of these victims were not wearing life vests.
• The vessels most commonly involved in reported accidents were: motorboats at 47%, PWCs at 19%, and cabin motorboats at 14%.
• The primary accident type was a collision with another recreational vessel at 1002 accidents, 40 of which were fatal. The second most common accident type was flooding or swamping of a vessel. And the third primary type was collision with a fixed object, responsible for 58 deaths.

As these USCG recreational boating accident statistics demonstrate, there is danger out there on the water, and you need to take reasonable safety precautions as you use the waterways in order to preserve life and limb. Our Galveston boating injury lawyers suggest that you wear a life vest, take a course on proper water safety and watercraft operation, observe the “rules of the road,” maintain a safe distance between yourself and other vessels and swimmers, maintain a safe speed, and drink responsibly.

A close review of the USCG statistics indicates that a large number of the accidents are preventable if boaters observe caution and take keep necessary safety measures in mind. Take a look at the full USCG accident statistics report if you get a chance, and absorb its safety lessons. Our Galveston boating injury attorneys hope that when the statistics for 2012 emerge next year, that all the numbers we’ll see will be lower.