Understanding Your Risks of Injury on Charter Boats
Some of the most beautiful parts of Texas are seen from the water. Whether you hop on a fishing boat from the Port of Houston or go sailing in the Gulf, you’re sure to see some amazing sights.
Locals and tourists alike often head out on charter boats, opting for the ease and comfort of a professional crew rather than doing the work themselves. Unfortunately, all that fun can turn into a nightmare when someone on the boat is injured. Head injuries, lacerations, water events, and soft-tissue trauma are some of the more common injuries that happen, and often the landlubber is not to blame.
Why Did Your Charter Boat Accident Happen?
If you charter a boat for a fishing trip or an evening sail, you expect to be provided with a safe environment run by professionals. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Accidents and injuries happen all the time on charter boats due to the following:
- Inexperienced staff. If you charter a boat that has a staff, their inexperience can cause you to become injured. If they don’t secure the equipment properly, fail to operate the vessel in a safe manner, attempt to work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or don’t receive adequate training, they put passengers and the rest of the crew in danger.
- Poorly-maintained ships. If the boat is old or doesn’t receive the maintenance it needs to operate properly, passengers can become injured. Loose trim or flooring, shaky railings, rusty ladders, frayed lines, rotting wood, and more can all harm passengers who are expecting a safe environment.
- Lack of safety equipment. Unfortunately, you likely won’t know if the ship is stocked with the right safety equipment until you are involved in a dangerous situation. If the ship doesn’t have flotation devices, fire extinguishers, back-up batteries, etc., in the event of an emergency, you could become seriously injured, or worse.
Accident Victims Have Rights
If you are injured on a charter boat through no fault of your own, you have rights. Attorney Steve Lee wants to fight for them. Visit our testimonials page to hear from some of our valued clients.