At the Hollingsworth Law Firm, our Houston personal injury lawyers know just how popular boating is in Texas. With approximately 367 miles of open Gulf of Mexico shoreline, and over 150 significantly sized lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, residents and visitors alike can enjoy our waterways for both pleasure and sport.
Unfortunately, our Harris County personal injury attorneys also know that, just like on our roadways, one negligent boater can cause a significant accident that injures multiple people — or worse, takes innocent lives.
If you have been injured in a Texas boating accident, or tragically lost a loved one in a boat crash caused by negligence, we want to hear your story, so we can help you pursue the liable party for your full financial recovery.
How Many Boating Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities Occur in Texas Each Year?
Texas Parks and Wildlife reported that fatalities on Texas waterways increased 45% last year from the previous year’s statistics, with fatal accidents rising by 61%.
With 55 boating fatalities and multiple boat accidents and injuries occurring on Texas waterways last year, some of the most common causes of vessel collisions included:
- Colliding with Other Vessels or Objects.
- Distracted Operation of a Boat.
- Excessive Speed.
- Lack of Boater Education/Water Safety.
- Operating a Boat While Impaired.
Drowning is the highest reported cause of death in boating fatalities, as victims are found not wearing life jackets. While boats are required to carry enough life jackets for everyone on board the vessel, having them is simply not enough. Accidents on the water can happen quickly leaving insufficient time to put on a life jacket when it is most needed.
Other causes of boat accidents in Texas include, but are not limited to:
- Capsizing and/or sinking.
- Dangerous weather conditions.
- Electrocutions from stray currents.
- Falls overboard.
- Fires or explosions.
- Force of waves/wake.
- Lack of life jackets and/or safety gear.
- Mechanical or equipment failures.
- Navigational errors.
- Obstructed vision.
- Overloading the vessel.
- Propeller accidents.
- Running aground.
- Sharp turns.
- Slips and falls aboard the vessel.
- Standing or sitting in unauthorized areas.
If you or someone you love has been injured or lost their life to negligence in a Texas boat accident, contact our dedicated Houston personal injury lawyers at the Hollingsworth Law Firm today by calling 713-637-4560 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Our skilled bilingual personal injury lawyers and support staff represent clients throughout the state of Texas on a contingency basis, so you never pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
If you are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve, so are we. Let us take the lead.
