Tour boats take visitors up and down rivers, on lakes, and along coasts and ports to see the sights. Unfortunately, these boats are often involved in accidents that result in injuries or even fatalities to passengers or crew members. If you were hurt in a tour boat accident, contact a maritime lawyer for assistance.
About Tour Boats and Small Passenger Vessels
Tour boats are vessels that carry passengers for the purpose of sightseeing or other tourist activities. They can take many forms, from small, fast-moving speedboats to larger, slower-moving vessels. Most fall under the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) category of small passenger vessel (SPV).
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SPVs must be inspected and certified by the USCG. Some of the categories of SPV as listed by the USCG and that may be considered tour boats are:
- Amphibious vessels (duck boats)
- Attraction vessels
- Charter fishing vessels
- Diving vessels
- Excursion vessels
- Gaming vessels
- Harbor cruise vessels
- River cruise vessels
- Sailing vessels
Are Tour Boats Dangerous?
Tour boats are varied and not inherently dangerous. They become dangerous when not maintained, properly inspected, certified, or properly operated. Tour boats can be very safe when maintained and operated by trustworthy and responsible tour companies. If they are not, accidents and injuries are more likely.
Either crew members or passengers may be injured or killed in tour boat accidents. Some of the most common types of accidents recorded for tour boats include:
- Falls onto surfaces
- Diving accidents
- Collisions with other vessels or fixed objects
- Strikes with moving objects
- Crush accidents
- Overexertion
- Falls into the water
- Line handling accidents
These and other less common accidents can cause a variety of injuries, including fractures, cuts, head and neck injuries, crush injuries, hypothermia, or spinal injuries. They can also cause fatal injuries or death by drowning.
What Causes Tour Boat Accidents?
Many potential factors, often preventable, can contribute to or cause accidents with tour boats that hurt or kill workers or passengers:
- Lack of USCG inspection and certification
- Lack of licensing of crew members
- Equipment failure or malfunction
- Inadequate training of workers, including safety training
- Crew members under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Miscommunications between workers
- Bad weather
- Lack of safety gear
- Not following safety protocols
Examples of Tour Boat Accidents
Unfortunately, there are many examples of tour boat accidents. Some cause injuries, while others are fatal.
Tour Boat Collision in Miami
A collision between a tour boat and a charter boat in the waters off Miami resulted in injuries to multiple passengers in early 2024. While the cause of the collision is still under investigation, it was known that the charter boat was operating illegally.
The tour boat is owned by Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures and takes passengers on high-speed sightseeing tours along the coast. Some of the injured passengers have sued the company for damages.
Fatal Cave Tour Boat Accident
One passenger died in a 2023 tour boat accident at Lockport Cave in New York. The boat was taking passengers on a historical tour of the Erie Canal, which goes underground. During this tour, the boat became unbalanced and capsized.
The capsizing threw all passengers into the water and resulted in one death. The man who died may have become trapped under the boat. Several other people had minor injuries.
A 2018 accident involving a duck tour boat in Branson, Missouri, in 2022 resulted in 17 deaths. The accident occurred on Table Rock Lake during severe weather. Waves rocked the boat and caused it to take on water.
Fatal Duck Boat Accident in Missouri
A 2018 accident involving a duck tour boat in Branson, Missouri, in 2022 resulted in 17 deaths. The accident occurred on Table Rock Lake during severe weather. Waves rocked the boat and caused it to take on water.
The captain and two other employees of the tour company were charged with manslaughter in the incident. The captain should not have taken the tour out on the water with a severe thunderstorm warning in effect. He also failed to follow protocol by not requiring passengers to put on life vests as the boat began taking on water.
What to Do if You Were Injured in a Tour Boat Accident
Many accidents on tour boats were preventable. Negligence is a common underlying cause of these incidents that should not have happened. If you are injured on a tour boat, getting medical care should be your first priority.
After getting medical attention, consider talking to a maritime lawyer. Many complicated maritime laws govern negligence and accidents on boats. A lawyer can determine if you have a case to sue for damages.
You may also be able to recover damages if you lost a loved one in a fatal tour boat accident. Working with an experienced maritime lawyer gives you the best chance of getting the compensation you need.