Avoid A Boating Accident In Texas With These Crucial Tips

Texans enjoy their boats and with over 4,000 square miles of fresh water, it’s no secret why they love their boats. The state is a great place to have a goat, but boating accidents are quite common in the state, and accidents are more common there than many other states. In fact, in 2015 there were over 150 boating accidents and 39 of them were fatal. This is why it’s important to know how to use a boat safely.

If you own a boat, you should know how to avoid an accident. You don’t want to suffer an injury, nor do you want to be faced with a lawsuit. With that said, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Know The Laws

You should learn about boating laws in Texas to understand a BWI, especially in regards to the equipment you need to have on board, as required by law. The US Coast Guard has a mobile app you can use to find laws pertaining to this. You can learn what kind of safety equipment you need to have and you can request a safety check via the app.

2. Educate Yourself On Safety

State law requires those who are born after 1993 to take a boater education course, which can be completed online. Courses are sometimes required if you violate the Water Safety Act, but even if you’re not required to take a safety course, you should. Taking a course can refresh your memory of the safety rules and you can learn a lot. These courses tend to be quick, but very informative, so take advantage of them.

3. Get Boat Insurance

You don’t have to get boating insurance, but you should get a policy anyway. Remember, your home or auto insurance policy will do you no good if you are involved in a boating accident, but boating insurance will help you repair or replace your boat. It can also provide you with liability coverage, so do yourself a favor and shop around for boating insurance and choose the policy that offers you the most coverage at the best price.

4. Never Drink And Drive

Never drink and drive while operating your boat. Alcohol is involved in over half of boating accidents, and drunk driving in a boat is illegal in the state of Texas. If you’re arrested, you could be sent to jail for up to six months and you may have to pay a hefty fine. The state may also take your driver’s license away.

5. Get Legal Help

If you are ever involved in a boating accident, then get yourself a BWI attorney as soon as possible. Many attorneys will offer you a free initial consultation, which is where they will learn a little about your case and they may look for gaps in your coverage. Make sure you have legal representation if you are being sued or if you want to pursue a lawsuit after being involved in a boating accident because the last thing you want to do is defend or pursue a lawsuit without an expert in your corner.

Boating is fun, but you need to be safe. You don’t want to put yourself at risk or other boaters, so always operate your boat in a safe manner. With that said, enjoy your summer and time on the water, and feel free to come back to this article if you need a refresher on how to avoid a boating accident.