Many boating accidents happen because of inexperience. This is very common in Florida. Many people who visit the state are tourists or one-time visitors. They may rent boats or borrow them from friends or family members, but they do not own watercraft and have little to no practical experience operating them.
This can put others on the water in danger. Even if you understand how to operate your own watercraft safely and within the bounds of the law, you could still be involved in an accident caused by an inexperienced operator who makes avoidable mistakes. Below are two examples of how this can happen.
Drivers who do not use a lanyard
On small watercraft, such as jet skis, it is important and often legally required for the operator to use a lanyard attached to a kill switch. If the operator falls off the jet ski, the watercraft will automatically shut off. An inexperienced operator may forget to attach the lanyard to their wrist or life vest. If they fall off the jet ski, which is more common for inexperienced riders, the craft may go out of control.
Boats do not have brakes
Another key issue is that boats do not operate like cars, and they do not have brakes. Inexperienced operators may collide with docks, swimming platforms or other watercraft because they forget that a boat cannot stop as quickly as a motor vehicle. Instead, the operator must slow the boat well in advance. By the time an inexperienced driver realizes they are approaching a dock too quickly, it may be too late to stop safely.
Boating accidents can result in serious injuries. Those involved need to understand what legal options they have following an accident.