Boat and Watercraft Accident Attorney
Negligence, speeding, intoxication, equipment failure, or hazardous weather conditions can lead to devastating injuries and property damage.
If you’ve been in a boating or BUI accident, don’t wait. Consult the experts at Cyclistlaw.
Operating a boat, jet ski, wet bike, SeaDoo, Waverunner or any personal watercraft requires a competent understanding of the rules of the road, and the skill to operate the vessel.
Boating under the Influence (BUI) affects judgment, vision, balance, and coordination. Any of these impairments can increase the risk of being involved in a boating crash. Operator and passengers are likely to experience injury and harm from any boating crash. Alcohol is a contributing factor in approximately one third of all recreational boating fatalities.
It is legal to drink alcohol while boating; however it is not legal to drive a boat over the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol level (BAC). The legal limit for operating a motor vehicle on the road is the same for operating a watercraft vessel of any type. If you operate a watercraft vessel and are over the legal alcohol limit, you may cause serious injury or death and will be subject to civil damages for the harms you caused as well as punitive damages for the choices you made that lead to the harm caused.
The Coast Guard is empowered to board any vessel on the water without a search warrant. If you are not in compliance with any rules of the road you may be subject to a USCG boarding.
Before operating a boat or jet ski or personal watercraft or Waverunner, make sure you stay hydrated, drinking alcohol in moderation if at all, and wear sun screen.
According to Texas Penal Code Ann. § 49.06, a person commits the offense of boating while intoxicated (BUI) or (BWI) if the person is above a .08% blood alcohol content, while operating a watercraft.
Stay hydrated, stay safe, stay sober.