With thousands of acres of inland lakes and one of the country’s longest coastlines, Texas is great for boaters. People enjoy boats, jet skis, and other personal watercraft. A day on the water should be full of fun. However, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. A boating accident can be devastating. When your body hits the water at a high speed, it is comparable to hitting concrete. Most boats and watercraft do not offer the same safety protections—airbags and seatbelts—as automobiles. An accident on the water can be even more dangerous for the occupants due to the additional risks of drowning and hypothermia.
Boating Rules and Laws
Location influences the laws that govern boat operators. State, local, and federal laws may apply. Texas requires mandatory boat operator classes for anyone that desires to utilize a watercraft on a Texas lake or waterway. In these classes, boaters learn how to safely operate a watercraft and are educated on the rules all boat operators must follow. One of the most important rules is the right-of-way. Generally, bigger boats have the right-of-way because they take longer to change course. Unlike roadways that have clearly defined traffic lanes, there is typically not an identified “lane of travel” on a lake. Nevertheless, nautical right-of-way rules require operators to yield to other boats intersecting their path from the right based on their direction of travel. The accident’s location will also influence access and response time for emergency responders. Local sheriffs, the Coast Guard, and Texas Parks and Wildlife officials may all respond to an incident occurring on a Texas waterway. Often, Parks and Wildlife will take over an investigation if the accident results in severe injuries or death. People should report severe accidents to them within 30 days if the incident causes bodily injuries, or within 48 hours if the incident results in a fatality. However, these incidents may be under investigated because of strained resources and location issues. A proactive boat accident attorney in Garland could help identify public and private resources to investigate the incident and gather critical evidence that may be necessary to establish the negligence of the other party.
