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Boating Accidents Information: Boating Statistics Summary
In 2003, States and jurisdictions reported a total of 12,794,616 numbered recreational boats compared to 12,854,054 in 2002. The 5,438 boating accidents reported in 2003 resulted in 703 fatalities, 3,888 injuries, and $40,422,374 in property damage.
| Accident Stats by State | Accidents Stats by Vessel Type | Fatality Stats by State |
Since 1991, recreational boating fatalities have continued along a downward trend line even though the number of registered boats has increased by 15 percent.
Approximately seventy percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned (481 out of 703). Eighty-six percent of the victims who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD or lifejacket). Overall, fatal accident data show approximately 416 lives could have been saved last year if boaters had worn their lifejackets.
The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel. However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for over half (57%) of all boating fatalities. Boat operators need to pay attention to the capacity label on their boat and be careful not to overload small boats (less than 16 feet) with passengers and/or gear.
Overall, operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, operator inexperience, and excessive speed are the leading contributing factors of all reported accidents.
The most common types of boats involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (42%), personal watercraft (PWC) (27%) and cabin motorboats (14%). Increases were observed in the number of reported fatalities involving cabin motorboats (64) and canoes and kayaks (87) from 2002. A decrease was observed in the number of fatalities involving open motorboats (359) and PWC (57) from the number of fatalities reported in 2002.
The number of reported injuries involving PWC use continued along a downward trend and has decreased every year since 1996.
Twenty-seven (27) children age 12 and under lost their lives while boating in 2003 compared to 28 children in 2002. Drowning was the reported cause of death for approximately 60% of the children who perished in 2003.
Consistent with previous years, nearly 80% of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction).
Alcohol was involved in 31% of all boating fatalities in 2003; down 8% from 2002.
Top 10 Contributing Factors
| Accident Rank | Contributing Factor | # Accidents | # Fatalities |
| 1 | OPERATOR INATTENTION | 703 | 55 |
| 2 | CARELESS/RECKLESS OPERATION | 486 | 33 |
| 3 | OPERATOR INEXPERIENCE | 477 | 50 |
| 4 | EXCESSIVE SPEED | 446 | 34 |
| 5 | HAZARDOUS WATERS | 356 | 62 |
| 6 | PASSENGER/SKIER BEHAVIOR | 331 | 24 |
| 7 | NO PROPER LOOKOUT | 326 | 23 |
| 8 | ALCOHOL USE | 289 | 107 |
| 9 | MACHINERY SYSTEM FAILURE | 241 | 17 |
| 10 | RULES OF THE ROAD INFRACTION | 199 | 10 |
Top 5 Types of Accidents
| Accident Rank | Contributing Factor | # Accidents | # Fatalities |
| 1 | COLLISION WITH VESSEL | 1,469 | 70 |
| 2 | COLLISION WITH FIXED OBJECT | 558 | 50 |
| 3 | CAPSIZING | 514 | 206 |
| 4 | FALLS OVERBOARD | 509 | 201 |
| 5 | SKIER MISHAP | 451 | 6 |
Accident Cases Excluded from the Statistics:
This report does not include the following:
1. Accidents involving only property damage of less than $2,000. In calendar year 2003, the Federal threshold of property damage for reports of accidents involving recreational vessels was $2,000 or more per accident.
2. Accidents involving only slight injury which did not require medical treatment beyond first aid;
3. Accidents which were not caused or contributed to by a vessel, its equipment, or its appendages;
4. Accidents where a person died or was injured from natural causes while aboard a vessel;
5. Accidents were a person died or was injured while swimming to retrieve an object or
a vessel that was adrift from its mooring or dock, having departed from the shore or pier;6. Accidents involving damage, injury or death on a docked or moored vessel that resulted from storms, unusual tidal, sea or swell conditions; or when a vessel got underway in those conditions in an attempt to rescue persons put in peril;
7. Accidents where a person died or was injured while swimming for pleasure from a vessel that WAS NOT underway (i.e., the vessel was anchored, moored, or docked). In those cases, the vessel was being used as a platform for other activities, such as swimming or diving, and was not involved in any event that contributed to the casualty. Accident reports for twenty-seven (27) fatalities were entered into the BARD system that did not satisfy Federal reporting requirements for inclusion in this report. The following shows the number of fatalities for each “non-reportable” category:
| Commercial activity (includes commercial fishing, carrying passengers for hire, scuba diving, and guided whitewater rafting trips): | 14 |
| A person dies in swimming to retrieve an object or a vessel that is adrift from its mooring or dock, having departed from the shore or pier: | 6 |
| A person dies from natural causes while aboard a vessel: | 2 |
| A person dies from self-inflicted wounds, alcohol poisoning, ingestion of drugs, controlled substances or poison; or from gunshot wounds: | 1 |
| A person dies while swimming for pleasure from a vessel that IS NOT underway (the vessel is anchored, moored or docked): | 1 |
| A person dies while the vessel was being used to conduct government business: | 1 |
| A fatality that was not caused by a vessel, its equipment or its appendages: | 1 |
| A person died while operating a vessel that was used exclusively for racing and was equipped with propulsion machinery: | 1 |
Accidents that ARE included with the Statistics
This report includes the following boating accidents involving a swimmer, a recreational vessel and its operation:
1. A person dies or is injured while swimming because of carbon monoxide poisoning;
2. A person dies or is injured while swimming because a vessel is improperly connected to shore power and resultant stray electrical current enters the water causing electrocution;
3. A person dies or is injured after leaving a vessel that is underway to swim for pleasure because the vessel IS NOT anchored, moored or docked and the vessel drifts away from the swimmer and the swimmer is unable to get back to the vessel;
4. A person is struck by a vessel or its associated equipment where the vessel serves as the instrument striking the person. Accident reports for one hundred and seven (107) fatalities were entered into the BARD System that satisfy the reporting requirements above for inclusion in this report. The following shows the number of fatalities involving a swimmer, a recreational vessel and its operation:
| 1. Fatalities where the cause of death involved carbon monoxide poisoning: | 7 |
| 2. A person departed a vessel that was underway to swim: | 29 |
| 3. A person departed a vessel that was underway for other reasons: | 10 |
| 4. A person is struck by a vessel or its associated equipment: | 61 |
If you've been hurt on a Boat or a Ferry, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the Boat or Ferry operator and collect compensation for your pain and suffering. To get started, fill out this short form.
see also:
Accidents By Vessel Type
Boating Accident Lawsuit Attorney: Learn More About Boating InjuriesBoating Accident Resources: Boating Accident Statistics by Vessel Type
Accidents by State
Boating Accident Attorney: Learn More About Boating & Ferry InjuriesBoating Accident Resources: Learn More about Boating Accidents & Lawsuits
NYS Bridges, Tunnels & Ferries
Car/Boating Accident Lawsuit: New York State Bridges, Tunnels & FerriesCar/Boating Accident Lawsuit: NYS Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries
