Alcohol Contributes to Boating Accidents

Intoxicated boat operators continue to cause serious boating accidents resulting in many fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Steering a vessel requires the same concentration and coordination as driving a vehicle. 

Of course, driving a boat in a wide open lake or reservoir isn’t like maneuvering tight left turns on congested city streets, but both environments require the driver to be able to quickly respond to any issues.

Sun, Wind, Noise Elements Add to Risk

Hours in the sun combined with the wind, motion, noise and vibration typically found aboard a boat can produce "boater's hypnosis," which reduces an operator's performance as much as alcohol would and can cause boating accidents. The US Coast Guard found that an operator who has two beers and four hours of exposure to the elements can be expected to demonstrate the equivalent performance of a rested operator who has had six beers.

Additionally, some weekend holidays have boaters running at  night, which can contribute to higher boat accidents. Night boating combined with alcohol can lower a boater's ability to discern moving objects, faint lights, and unlit objects on the water. Even glare from a masthead light or the moon can significantly impair night vision when blood alcohol levels are as low as .01%, or about half a beer. Alcohol also affects peripheral vision and a person's ability to judge the speed and distance of an approaching boat. Other interesting boat accident statistics follow:

• The Department of Boating and Waterways Accident Report found that 66% of all alcohol-related fatalities the victims fell overboard and drowned.
• Intoxicated passengers were the victims of or contributed to 40% of the boating accidents.

Stiff Penalties Can Be Enforced

Besides seeking compensation for personal injuries and property damage, operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol can bring legal consequences as well. For instance, if a boating accident occurs:

• It’s considered a misdemeanor and could carry a penalty of one year in the county jail, a fine not to exceed $1000—or both.
• If boat accident causes injury to another person, it may be ruled a felony by the courts and could carry a penalty of one year in prison and fine of up to $5,000.
• If boat accident causes death to another person, it is a felony and could carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Learn about Seeger Weiss's work on a $2.9 million settlement in a wrongful death and boating negligence case.

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