As many Ohio residents begin making summer plans or amending their summer ideas based on the coronavirus pandemic, lake boating remains in many families’ plans for the upcoming months.
Even if social distancing protocols need to remain in place over the summer, many individuals and families alike may be able to enjoy boating without worrying about crowded lake shores or other recreational areas.
Yet boating comes with its own risks of injury in boating accidents. Well-known hazards such as consuming alcohol while boating or speeding can lead to serious crashes and drowning incidents. Distracted boating is also a problem.
Just like distracted driving, if a boater is not paying attention out on the water, accidents can happen. The following are some tips from Boating Magazine to avoid a distracted boating accident this summer.
Visually Scan the Area Around Your Boat
You should always be visually scanning the area all around your vessel—what Boating Magazine describes as a “360-degree examination of everything on the water around your boat.” By scanning the area, you can be aware of any hazards that you may be approaching or that may be approaching you.
Concentrate on the Task of Boating
While boating can be a relaxing recreational activity for yourself and your family, it is important to remember that boating is also a task that requires your attention. Do not assume that you can stop paying attention at any point while you are boating.
Analyze the Conditions on and Around the Boat
In focusing on the task of boating, you should also be analyzing water conditions and weather conditions. If any objects are approaching you, it is important to get a sense of how fast they are moving and whether they could collide with the boat. And if the weather looks like it could be turning, you should head back in. Getting distracted and failing to see a storm coming, for example, can be extremely dangerous.
Make Necessary Adjustments for Safety
As you are scanning the area around your boat and analyzing the conditions, you may need to make safety adjustments to avoid a collision or choppy water that could lead to an overboard incident. You should have firm knowledge of the Navigation Rules, and you should know what to do if another boat is inappropriately approaching you head on or attempting to overtake your vessel.
When such incidents occur, you should have a plan for making any necessary safety adjustments.
Contact Me to Get Started on Your Boating Accident Claim
Summer is just around the corner. Although the coronavirus pandemic may mean that summer recreational activities do not look exactly like they did prior to the COVID-19 emergency, many Cleveland-area residents are still planning trips with their families to the lake and anticipating weekend boating.
It is important to remember that boating accidents can result in serious and even fatal injuries, and it is necessary to take precautions. If another boater’s distraction caused a collision in which you or one of your family members sustained injuries, I can help you to file a claim. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877.944.4373 so that I can evaluate your case and help you to understand your options for moving forward with a claim.
