When you set out for a nice afternoon on the Lake of the Ozarks (or another beautiful spot in Missouri), you never expect that the afternoon will end in a Missouri boating accident. You never expect that someone will be hurt or that someone will die. Yet, last year alone there were 141 reported boating accidents in Missouri and many more around the country. Accordingly, it is important to be aware of the most common boating accident risks and to know what to do if you are hurt, or if you lose a loved one, in an accident.
The Top Five Causes of Recreational Boating Accidents
According to the US Coast Guard, the top five causes of recreational boating accidents during 2012 included:
- Collision with a recreational vessel
- Flooding or swamping
- Collision with a fixed object
- Grounding
- A skier mishap
Together, these five causes resulted in 2,803 accidents, 1,876 injuries, and 195 fatalities.
Protect Yourself with the Help of a Missouri Boating Accident Lawyer
If you have been hurt in a Missouri boating accident for one of the reasons listed above, or in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent or deliberate actions, then we encourage you to contact an experienced Missouri boat accident lawyer today for more information about your rights and your possible recovery. Our Missouri boat accident attorneys welcome your call at (573) 240-8866, and we also invite you to read our FREE guide, The Lies Smart People Believe About Missouri Insurance Claims, to find out more about what to do after a Missouri boat accident.