Stay Safe on the Water This Memorial Day Weekend in North Carolina

At Dewey, Ramsay, & Hunt, P.A., our Charlotte boat accident lawyers know that each year, negligence plays a critical role in the number of waterway accidents that occur throughout North Carolina.

Even though boating season has just recently kicked off, there have already been multiple boating deaths on the waters of northeastern North Carolina this month alone.

Earlier this month, a 25-year-old from Manteo, North Carolina, died due to injuries sustained in a two-boat collision north of Shallowbag Bay in the Roanoke Sound.

The other vessel and another passenger on the same boat also sustained severe injuries.

A week before, a man was pronounced dead following a Saturday afternoon boating accident in Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount police and surrounding agencies responded to the accident on the Tar River Reservoir where a single boat was involved in an accident.

Police say the boat struck a pier, causing the operator to be ejected.

Both investigations remain open with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

The Most Common Cause of Boating Accidents is Operator Inattention.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the most common cause of boating accidents is operator inattention.

Operator inattention can lead to collisions, passengers falling overboard, and slip-and-falls onboard, all of which lead to serious injuries and fatalities.

Unfortunately, that is not where negligence on our North Carolina waterways ends.

The USCG also lists reckless behaviors that are common in vehicle accidents as common boat collision causes, too — driving while intoxicated and speeding.

Tips to Stay Safe Over the Memorial Day Holiday:

There are several tips that can help everyone on our North Carolina waterways stay safe over Memorial Day, and the rest of the boating season.

They include:

• When operating a motor vehicle of any kind, including any type of vessel, it is never okay to mix alcohol with driving.
• Allow the boat operator to focus on driving, which means appointing and maintaining a lookout, and keeping all passengers in their seats until the boat comes to a complete stop to anchor.
• Ensure the boat is equipped with enough life jackets and other safety equipment for each person on board and that everyone is wearing them.
• All boat operators should know the rules of the waterways they are on, including safely traversing buoys, and slowing down.
• Use Automatic Identification and Navigation Systems to stay ahead of any potential dangers and avoid colliding with unseen objects.

The USCG is asking all boat owners and operators to help reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage, and associated healthcare costs related to recreational boating accidents by taking personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their passengers each time they are on the water.

If you have been involved in a boat collision with a negligent boater, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers in Charlotte today to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the best outcome for your financial recovery needs.

Contact Our Experienced Boat Accident Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina Today.

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, our leading boat accident lawyers in Charlotte provide free consultations by calling 704-377-3737 or contacting us online.

We provide unique legal services tailored to fit each client’s needs and do not get paid unless you do.

Because every case is different, the description of awards and cases previously handled by our law firm does not guarantee a similar outcome in current or future cases.