Boating Accident Lawyers in Jackson

Serving Clients Across Mississippi

Few outdoor summer activities are quite as enjoyable as boating down one of Mississippi’s many beautiful rivers. Each year, more than 2.5 million people vacation, boat, and fish in the Ross Barnett Reservoir, and many more Mississippi residents enjoy the historic Mississippi and other iconic rivers. While recreational and work-related boating are parts of everyday life for Mississippi natives and their families, it is also an unfortunate reality that boating accidents are a common occurrence as well.

Whether you or a loved one has been injured in a recreational or work-related boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the harms suffered. Talk to a Jackson boating accident lawyer at ‘MAGGIO LAW for a free consultation and find out what our firm can do to help you.

Call (601) 265-6869or fill out our online contact form to get started!

Boating Accidents by the Numbers

In the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 report on boating accidents, it was reported that 4,168 boating accidents injured 2,559 people and killed 613 others.

The leading causes of boating accidents were:

• Collisions with recreational vessels (1,071 accidents)
• Collisions with fixed objects (493 accidents)
• Grounding (413 accidents)
• Flooding/swamping (399 accidents)
• Falls overboard (299 accidents)

What Causes Boat Accidents?

According to the Coast Guard’s report, operator inattention was cited as the most common cause of boating accidents, accounting for 546 of these incidents and causing 36 deaths and 296 injuries.

Other leading causes of boat accidents include:

• Improper lookout
• Inexperienced operator
• Machinery failure
• Speeding
• Boating under the influence of alcohol
• Wake/wave force
• Adverse weather
• Violation of navigation rules
• Hazardous waters

Inexperienced Boaters Put Everyone on the Water at Risk

A lack of proper boating experience can contribute to unnecessary and avoidable boating accidents. Mississippi does not place many restrictions on operating a boat. The sole restriction on children under 12 years of age is that they must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older in order to operate the boat. In this way, boating laws are far less restrictive than the state’s driving laws, and this inexperience may contribute to accidents. However, Mississippi does also require boaters to take an education class, but even this requirement is waivable for older adults who are grandfathered in prior to this law’s enactment.

Common Boating Accident Injuries

Any type of boating accident, whether it involves another vessel, a fixed object, or a land mass, can cause severe injury to those involved. Depending on the type and severity of injuries, hospitalization, surgeries, or even long-term care may be necessary for recovery. In particularly tragic cases, boating accident injuries can be fatal.

Some of the many types of boating accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputation and limb loss
• Broken bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Drowning

Boating accident injuries can often be life-changing, requiring a person to essentially put their life on hold while they take time to recover. High medical expenses along with missing weeks or even months of work due to a boating accident injury can place an enormous financial stress on a person, all because another person acted in a negligent manner.

Boating Safety Tips

To reduce the risk of a boating accident, avoid drinking any alcohol while operating the boat, first and foremost. Common sense safety precautions should be followed as well, which include operating at a safe speed, avoiding overly crowded areas, and avoiding steering too close to safety buoys. It is also a wise idea to check weather reports before taking the boat out for the day. Beyond these commonsense basics, it also proves fruitful to take a boating safety and education course every few years. It never hurts to shore up safety knowledge, especially when these practices help save lives and prevent unnecessary injuries.

Our Jackson, MS Boat Accident Attorneys Can Offer Helpful Insight

If you or your loved ones have been injured because of a boat operator’s disregard for the safety of others, ‘MAGGIO LAW is here to help. If we take on your case, we can investigate to determine what caused your injuries and who should be held responsible. We can help you pursue financial compensation for your medical care, lost earnings, and other losses or expenses. Our goal will be to help you put your life back together.

For your free boating accident consultation, call (601) 265-6869!