Boating Accidents in Utah
BOATING ACCIDENT LAWYER JAKE GUNTER
Boating accidents don’t grab as many headlines as other types of accidents, but they happen more frequently than you may think. If you are involved in a boating accident, you’ll need a personal injury attorney Provo to help make sure your rights are protected. Call Jake Gunter, he can normally tell you over the phone in 5 minutes if you have an injury claim.
Utah Boat Laws
In Utah, there are clear boating laws and regulations that should be adhered to so that boating safety is optimal. All sailboats and motorboats should be registered, insured, and certified.
The law also requires that every boat have at least one personal flotation device (PFD), such as a life jacket. The PFD should be in good condition and worn at all times while boating. A good rule of thumb is to have every person on a boat wear a functional PFD that can help save their life in the event of a boating accident.
Boats of certain lengths are also required to have throwable PDFs, especially important in events where someone goes overboard. Having functional fire extinguishers on the vessel is also required by state law.
Common Boating Accidents
Utah is a beautiful state known for its scenic vistas and robust recreational venues. One of those is boating. Unfortunately, that also increases the probability of boating accidents. In Utah, the leading cause of boating accidents is operator inattention.
Although Utah is one of the driest states in the U.S., it ranks number six for the most boatable water in the country. With a host of beautiful lakes, it’s not unusual for people to wake up and go boating on a gorgeous day. So, paying extra attention to a boat’s navigation is extremely important. However, that doesn’t prevent other boaters from being inattentive and causing accidents.
Some of the most common boating accidents include:
- Capsizing (when the boat tips over into the water)
- Flooding
- Collisions (whether it’s with another vessel or a fixed structure like a dock or post)
- Overboard falls or intentionally getting off the boat
Boating accidents can be unintentional, particularly when natural elements, like strong winds, complicate an outing and create navigational difficulty. However, other types of boating accidents can be the result of irresponsible behavior that creates dangerous conditions for other boaters or themselves.
Common Causes and Injuries
In addition to operator inattention, there are other causes of boating accidents. Some of those include:
- Mechanical Failure (this includes when boats run out of fuel, in addition to any other types of mechanical failures with the vessel).
- Night Boating (limits field of vision and increases the likelihood of collisions and running aground).
- A boat is still a vehicle and shouldn’t be operated by someone under the influence.
- Inadequate Safety Gear.
- Bad Weather (including when boaters ignore forecasts that predict inclement weather conditions).
In 2021, a U.S. Coast Guard report recorded 43 recreational boating accidents in Utah. Of those, nine of those accidents involved fatalities. While paying attention and giving high regard to proper boating protocols are a great way to prevent boating accidents, these incidents are not always preventable. Every person’s adherence to boating safety is different and accident conditions are not always foreseeable.
If you are involved in a boating accident, one of the first things you should do is get in touch with a personal injury attorney Provo Utah. Howard Lewis & Petersen can help protect your rights and seek compensation for people that have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one due to a boating accident.
CALL/TXT UTAH BOATING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY JAKE GUNTER (801) 373-6345. LET HIS 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU
