Texas and many other southern states do not have a winter in the true sense of the word, and instead offer perfect weather for water based activities year-round. Texas also offers many beautiful lakes and other bodies of water which attract thousands of watercraft operators each year. However, with this seemingly great situation, comes the potential for tragedy. The prevalence of water-based activities year-round unfortunately increases the risk of watercraft accidents caused by driver inattention. If you have been injured in a watercraft accident due to driver inattention, do not hesitate to contact an experienced watercraft injury attorney.

Watercraft accidents occur in a number of ways, including:

• Collision between two watercraft
• One watercraft hitting a non-watercraft building
• Watercraft hitting a person in the water

Each type of watercraft accident can lead to varying degrees of injuries, although often the most catastrophic to human life occurs when one watercraft hits a person alone in the water. This often occurs through the use of jet-skis in a swimming area. The force of this impact can lead to severe injuries and even death.

While watercraft accidents can be caused by a number of different factors, either working together or individually, driver inattention remains one of the most prevalent causes of watercraft accidents. Driver inattention is not always caused by direct negligence and recklessness of a watercraft driver, but instead often occurs due to simple lack of experience. Experience often teaches watercraft drivers what to look for in any watercraft scenario, whereas inexperience often leads watercraft drivers to be complacent in situations where they perhaps should not be.

Driver inattention is one of the leading causes of watercraft accidents in the state of Texas. Driver inattention is a broad term that includes inexperience, distractions from passengers, and intoxication. Driver inattention quickly becomes dangerous when a number of other watercraft are on the water or in inclement weather, and it therefore becomes even more important for the driver to remain aware of their surroundings.

To the average person, it seems undeniably clear that the driver of any vehicle, whether it be a car or a watercraft, should remain focused on their surroundings and their task at hand. However, watercraft drivers often believe that they are not subject to these types of rules, and are often easily distracted while on a body of water. Boating appears to offer a luxurious setting relax with friends and not necessarily pay attention to what is going on around the watercraft. This lackadaisical attitude is what leads to many accidents caused by driver inattention.

Watercraft accidents become quite severe when a number of boats, jet skis, and individual swimmers are involved. Despite what people may think, watercraft accidents are often more dangerous than car accidents because people are not strapped into the watercraft.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a watercraft injury caused by driver inattention, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling different types of watercraft injuries, and can assist you in the first stages of filing your claim, as well as in litigating the claim itself. You should not be responsible for the damages and resulting costs caused by another’s inattention. Contact our Texas law offices today for your initial free consultation.