According to the most recent statistics available from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, Los Angeles and Orange Counties ran neck-and-neck when it came to the number of boating accident injuries and fatalities in 2014.

Most disturbing to each Los Angeles accident attorney at our firm is the fact that the report cites operator inattention as the leading cause of boating accidents throughout California. This means that boaters and their passengers often have little control over how the distractions of others can have a profound effect on their safety.

Accidents are Relatively Common in Recreational Activities

Coastal waterways, lakes and rivers provide local California boaters and tourists with many opportunities for some fun in the sun. The unfortunate truth is that recreational boaters often focus more on enjoyment while failing to consider the many risks associated with water activities.

Because of the entertainment value inherent in boating, operators and their guests often take the sport less seriously than they might view a ride down a highway in a car. In reality, every individual on a boat can contribute to operator distractions, as in the following examples:

• Party boats tend to involve many active people. Any operator can be easily distracted by conversations with passengers, or even when trying to warn passengers to curb excessive movement around the boat.
• Intoxicating substances are common to many boating activities, and the intoxicating effects of even minor amounts of alcohol can be unpredictable, particularly in the hot sun. Even when operators remain substance-free, intoxicated passengers can present extreme distractions.
• Towing sports require additional attention by operators, which is why California imposes many laws to address the risks, including the requirement to include an observer who focuses on the person being pulled by the boat. Still other activities on the boat can distract an operator who must think about an unprotected person behind the boat while trying to also focus on many other situations within the boat and in the water.
• Nearby watercraft: It only takes a few moments of distraction to cause an operator to fail to notice smaller personal water vehicles or other risks. Of course, rapidly-approaching small vehicles can also be at fault for accidents, even if they are the only individuals who sustain injuries.

Liability for Operator Inattention Can Extend to Many Parties

Operators of all water vehicles typically have the ultimate responsibility to protect the safety of their passengers, but they are clearly not the only parties who can bear the liability when an accident causes injuries. Anyone injured on a boat has the right to pursue damages for the harm caused by the inattention of anyone who operates a water vehicle even though establishing legal negligence involves many potential complexities.

It is important to seek support from a lawyer who has the resources needed to thoroughly investigate the underlying causes of any accident — often trying to establish the whereabouts and activities of every individual who was involved in any way. For a free no-risk consultation about a boating accident, call The Rudman Law Firm APC at 844-478-3626 / (844) 4RUDMAN, at our Los Angeles office at 213-375-3777 or at our Studio City office 818-769-6969.