Indianapolis Lack of Boat Safety Equipment Lawyers
Boats are some of the most enjoyable recreational vehicles around. Whether you are looking for a peaceful way to spend time outdoors or you want to enjoy a variety of water sports, boating remains one of the best ways to enjoy your free time.
However, there are a number of hazards that are directly associated with boats, and so it is important that all boat owners prepare themselves for any possible accidents or dangers. One of the best ways to do this is by ensuring the safety of everyone on board with all necessary and proper safety equipment.
When boaters, both amateur and professional, fail to stock their boats with all necessary safety equipment, they not only put their own life in danger, but they jeopardize the lives of everyone who sets foot on their boat, as well.
Such careless disregard for the well being of others cannot go unnoticed. Contact the lack of safety equipment attorneys at Hankey Marks & Crider today at (317) 634-8565 if you have been in a boating accident and didn’t have access to proper safety equipment.
Important Boat Safety Equipment
The legally required safety equipment for boats will depend on the size of the boat, how many passengers it is designed to transport, and the reason for transportation. The following may be required by boating laws:
- Life jackets
- Life rafts
- Fire extinguishers
- First aid kits
- Visual distress signals
- Compass
- Radio
The absence of this equipment can be deadly. Every year, many people lose their lives because there was no access to life jackets or because injuries sustained in a boating accident could not be treated immediately.
Dangers of an Improper Size Lifejacket
Lifejackets are designed to help people in the event that they find themselves in the water and unable to remain afloat on their own. Lifejackets come in a variety of sizes and are designed for a number of different purposes. Before buying a lifejacket, one should always be careful to check that it is the right size and that it is approved for its intended purpose.
One of the biggest problems with lifejackets when they are too big is that they don’t hold the head out of the water. A lifejacket that is too large for the wearer will slide up in the water and rest somewhere around the wearer’s ears. While this may be an amusing look in a situation that is not an emergency, it is not at all amusing in an emergency. With the lifejacket at a person’s ears rather than the shoulders, the head and face are not kept out of the water. If the person is injured and unable to provide any sort of movement to keep his or her face out of the water, a serious situation can become worse. The same problem exists in the event of a head injury that causes unconsciousness.
If a lifejacket is too small for its wearer, there can be serious problems as well. If the lifejacket is too small, it might not provide enough flotation to keep the injured or unconscious person on the surface of the water.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
If you have been injured in a boating accident because you were not provided with the proper safety equipment, you can hold the boat owner responsible for any injuries that you suffer. For assistance in getting the compensation you deserve for your boating accident, contact the lack of safety equipment lawyers at Hankey Marks & Crider and schedule a consultation.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a boating accident where safety equipment was not provided, contact the Indianapolis lack of safety equipment attorneys at Hankey Marks & Crider today at (317) 634-8565 to discuss your legal rights and options.