BOATING ACCIDENTS

Injury Attorney in Stockton

Boating accidents still injure and kill people on California waters every year. In 2024 there were 479 recreational boating incidents in California, which resulted in 214 injuries and 47 fatalities, according to the California Division of Boating and Waterways. A California boat accident lawyer can help you through the legal process and help you recover money for your injuries.

Across the country, the U.S. Coast Guard verified 3,887 recreational boating incidents in 2024. Those incidents involved 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries and about $88 million in property damage, per the Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Statistics 2024 report.

California had 596,703 registered recreational vessels in 2024. That is about 5.1% of all registered boats in the United States, based on the same Coast Guard report.

Boat Accident Causes

Many boating accident injuries are preventable. The Coast Guard found that 69% of 2024 boating deaths happened on boats where the operator had no boating safety instruction, where instruction was known. The top primary causes of accidents in 2024 were:

Operator inattention
Improper lookout
Operator inexperience
Machinery failure
Navigation rules violations

Boating Accidents and Alcohol

Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was the leading factor in 20% of 2024 deaths. Most boaters do not realize that the effects of alcohol are magnified on the water because of:

Diminished coordination
Susceptibility to hypothermia
Dehydration
Impaired judgment

It is illegal to operate a water vessel, or allow others to do so, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In California, a person is considered legally intoxicated if blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 or greater. For boaters under 21 the BAC cannot exceed 0.01. Penalties may include fines, jail time, community service and mandatory substance abuse counseling.

Injury attorney in Stockton at The Friel Law Firm is highly experienced in the field of boat accident law. Our case managers and investigators will gather the proof needed to recover your damages when you have been injured. Our Stockton boating injury attorney will use every available resource to help you. Contact us for your free injury consultation today.

Contact Injury Attorney in Stockton to discuss your case

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident it is important to speak with an experienced accident lawyer today. Lance Friel will advise your of your rights and help you through this difficult process. Call today (209) 300-6117 to speak with a qualified injury attorney in Stockton now.

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Type of Boat Accidents

In the U.S., vessel collisions are the most common type of accident and resulted in over one-fourth of the reported injuries and $13.4 million in property damage in 2003. Eight percent of all boating accidents result in fatalities. More than half of boating accident fatalities occurs because of capsizing and falling overboard, with 70% of those victims drowning; of those drowning, 86% did not wear a life jacket.

Types of recreational boat accidents include:

Capsizing
Falling overboard
Collisions with another vessel or structure
Fire
Sinking, flooding
Explosions
Disappearance of vessel or passenger

A Stockton boat accident lawyer from The Friel Law Firm is highly experienced in the field of boat accident law. Our expert case managers and investigators will take care of getting the proof needed to recover your damages when you’ve been injured. Our Stockton boating injury attorney will use every available resource to help you. Contact us for your free injury consultation today.

Boat Accident Prevention

When operating a recreational vessel, steps can be taken to prevent a California boat accident injury or to minimize the damage if an accident occurs:Always wear life jackets and dress for possible immersion. Be aware that cold weather is more dangerous: there are fewer boaters and patrols to rescue those in distress, and the water is much colder. Do not drink alcohol while on the water. When in larger bodies of water, take advantage of available distress-alerting and position-indicating technologies.

What if a California boat accident occurs? The operator of a water vessel in this state is required to file an accident report with the proper authorities when any of the following conditions occur:

A life is lost due to the accident
Someone sustains an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid
Property damage in excess of $500, or complete loss of the vessel
A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury

If the operator is unable to file the report, the owner must file. In California, death, disappearance and injury reports should be filed immediately; damage reports must be filed within 10 days.

A injury attorney in Stockton at The Friel Law Firm is highly experienced in the field of boat accident law. Our expert case managers and investigators will take care of getting the proof needed to recover your damages when you’ve been injured. Our injury attorney in Stockton will use every available resource to help you. Contact us for your free injury consultation today.

Contact injury Attorney in Stockton to discuss your case

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident it is important to speak with an experienced accident lawyer at The Friel Law Firm today. Lance Friel will advise your of your rights and help you through this difficult process. Call today (209) 300-6117 to speak with a qualified injury attorney in Stockton now.