Westchester County is in the Hudson Valley area, located to the North of New York City. The river and its tributaries give Westchester residents ample opportunities to enjoy boating.
Westchester has the highest number of boat registrations, standing at 10,701. However, there has been an increase in boating accidents in the county in recent years. Here are some causes of boating accidents in Westchester.
Operator Inattention
According to the latest data, Westchester has around 3499 Class “A” boats, primarily used for recreational purposes. One of the leading causes of boat accidents in Westchester is Operator inattention. There are many distractions when you are sailing through the Hudson River.
The factors such as weather, winds, and unpredictability of water require that the operator stay alert at all times and recognize the signs of danger early. As per 2019 boating accidents data, Westchester reported seven boating accidents in the Hudson River, leaving three people injured.
Westchester personal injury lawyers can help you file for compensation if you or someone you know has ever been a victim of such an accident.
Driving while Intoxicated
Just because you are driving a boat on water does not allow you to act irresponsibly. NY State laws state that you cannot operate a vessel on the waters of New York state when inebriated.
If you are found intoxicated while driving a boat, you could be fined heavily or even imprisoned. In certain cases, the court may also suspend your boating license for flouting the safety laws.
With the help of Westchester personal injury lawyers, you could file for compensation if you or your loved one is hurt in a boating accident where the driver was intoxicated.
Excessive Speed
The New York State mentions safe boating speeds at different locations. For example, the boat’s speed is limited to 5mph when within 100 feet of the shore. On some water bodies, the five mph speed limit is extended to 200mph. In some water bodies, the boating speed is restricted to 45mph during daytime and 25mph during nighttime.
Driving at excessive speed endangers the driver’s life and puts other people’s lives in danger too. Driving at excessive speeds also significantly increases the chances of boat collisions as you may not be able to slow your boat down when you spot another boat in your path. Other dangers of excessive speed are increased chances of rollovers and other hazards.
Unexpected Bad Weather
Weather is unpredictable and bad weather can cause boating accidents. In bad weather, the waters may get rough due to increased wind speeds. The visibility levels are also extremely low in such conditions.
Though bad weather is one cause of boating accidents, you can still hold the driver at fault under some circumstances. Ferries need to be equipped with safety equipment that can prevent loss of life.
NY laws state that boat owners must-have safety equipment like sound devices, life jackets, anchors and lines, visual distress signal equipment, and navigation lights installed.
If the boat owner flouts the safety rules, he can be held responsible for damages and injuries to passengers caused by bad weather.
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