Boating Accidents
Texas ranks sixth in the nation for the number of registered boats in the United States. Texas also has more square miles of inland waters than any other state. Therefore, it is no mystery that boating is a very common recreational activity in Texas. But with the popularity of boating comes the frequency of boat related accidents, injuries and fatalities. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department reports more than 150 boating accidents annually (including personal watercraft). Additionally, alcohol also plays a major role in approximately 50 percent of these accidents, while 85 percent of boating fatalities also involved victims who were not wear life jackets.
The operator of a boat or personal watercraft must exercise reasonable care. Failure to do so will subject the driver to liability should their negligence result in injury or death to another person. Just like cars, boat owners carry liability insurance in order to compensate those who are victims of an accident. Because of the inherent dangers of boating, the risks of serious injury or death are apparent. Additionally, the fact that alcohol consumption is so common in recreational boating only increases the likelihood of accidents on our Texas waterways.
