Passengers on boats include those on large cruise ships, charter recreation boats, ferries, and more. Traveling by boat or ship involves certain risks, but owners and crew are responsible for keeping passengers safe. Contact a maritime lawyer if you were injured as a passenger on a boat.
What Are the Risks and Dangers for Boat Passengers?
Boating can be fun but also dangerous. Whether you are traveling by ferry, enjoying a vacation on a cruise ship, or spending a few hours on a tour boat, certain risks are involved. Boat owners and operators are required to make excursions as safe as possible, but accidents can still happen.
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Being on a boat or ship is always potentially dangerous for both crew and passengers for several reasons:
- Unexpected bad weather and rough waters
- Collisions or groundings
- Fires or explosions
- Movement of the boat or shifting equipment that causes falls or strikes
- Toxic chemicals or fumes exposures
- Falls overboard
- Accidents involving boating or ship equipment or mooring lines
- Physical assaults
Even with safety precautions, training, and other measures, the unexpected can always happen on a boat or ship at sea, and these events can cause injuries or even fatalities.
Common Boating Injuries
With so many potential dangers and accidents, there are many injuries that passengers on boats may suffer:
- Fractured bones
- Sprains and strains
- Crush injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Electrical shocks
- Head, neck, or spine injuries
- Amputations and lost limbs
- Hypothermia
- Heat injuries
Unfortunately, boating accidents can also be deadly. Passengers may suffer fatal injuries or drown or be lost in overboard accidents.
What Causes Boat Passenger Accidents?
Accidents involving boats and ships are not always preventable, even with strict adherence to policies and safety measures. However, there are many situations in which accidents and injuries proved to have preventable causes:
- Lack of certifications, licensing, or required inspections of a vessel
- Lack of training and safety gear
- Failure to adhere to safety policies and procedures
- Poorly maintained equipment or machinery on a boat
- Trip hazards or poorly maintained ladders and stairs that cause falls
- Operating at unsafe speeds of failure to follow the rules of navigation
- Failure to account for weather conditions
- Lack of a lookout or watchman on board
- Alcohol intoxication or drug use
How Can Boat Passengers Stay Safe?
While the boat owner and operators are responsible for the safety of everyone on board, passengers also have responsibilities. Be smart about boating safety to reduce the risk of getting hurt:
- Only work with tour companies or boat owners with proper certifications and licenses and a reputation for safety.
- Avoid companies with a history of accidents, injuries, and fines.
- Do not get on boats that are over capacity.
- Listen to safety briefings and follow all safety procedures on board.
- Use safety equipment as needed, including a personal flotation device.
- Stay seated while the boat is in motion.
- Limit your alcohol intake or avoid drinking if alcohol is served.
Examples of Boat Passenger Accidents and Injuries
Unfortunately, the news is full of reports of accidents with passenger boats of all types that lead to injuries and fatalities. Most of these incidents could and should have been prevented.
Fatal Dive Boat Fire
A terrible and tragic example of a boating accident occurred in 2019 in waters off the coast of California. A fire on a charter dive boat in the middle of the night led to the deaths of 33 passengers and one crew member from smoke inhalation. The boat ultimately sank.
The captain of the boat was eventually convicted of seaman’s manslaughter because of his negligence in the incident. A primary preventable factor in the accident was the lack of a crew member on watch overnight who could have stopped the fire before it got out of control.
Tour Boat Collision
A collision between two tour boats near the Port of Miami in early 2024 led to injuries in multiple passengers. A private recreational boat and a tour boat called the Thriller Speedboat collided at high speed, sending 13 people to the hospital.
The cause of the accident and the liabilities are yet to be determined, but several passengers have already filed lawsuits against the operators of both boats. While videos show the private boat striking the tour boat, the tour boat was operating at very high speeds and could have caused the accident.
What to Do if You Were Injured as a Passenger on a Boat
After a boating accident, getting medical attention is the most important thing to do. Medical care for anyone injured on board should be the priority. The accident should also be reported to the appropriate officials. You may need an incident report if you choose to seek compensation for your injuries.
You may have several ways to seek compensation after a boating incident. If the company was insured, you may be able to file a claim for compensation through their policy. Another option might be to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a maritime lawyer to determine your best course of action. You could be entitled to compensation for medical bills, future medical costs, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Many complicated factors can be involved, including various laws, jurisdiction issues, and any liability waivers you signed. A lawyer will explain your options, guide you through the steps, and give you the best chance of recovering damages.