Throughout the state of Illinois, there are several lakes and rivers that boaters like to enjoy, not to mention the expansive and often treacherous Lake Michigan. The state of Missouri has the enormous Lake of the Ozarks, which brings many boaters each year. Unfortunately, boating adventures can often quickly turn into life-changing accidents if boat operators are unaware of their capabilities and have not planned accordingly prior to entering the water.
In both Illinois and Missouri, there are several rivers, lakes, and streams where many different types of vessels may be spotted. These boats may come in many different shapes and sizes and are intended to perform many different tasks. As with any other vehicle, there are boats intended for recreational use and merchant or commercial use. Some common types of vessels seen include:
- Barge
- Bow rider
- Fishing boat
- Great Lakes freighter
- Jet boat
- Jet ski
- Kayak
- Mackinaw boat
- Motorboat
- Tugboat
- Wakeboard boat
- Yacht
As there are several different types of boats, there are typically different guidelines and rules that individuals may be required to follow. Boating accidents may be caused by a number of different circumstances. In many instances, these accidents are a result of a negligent action performed by the driver; however, there are dozens of known causes of these types of accidents. Some common types of boating accidents include:
- Adverse weather conditions
- Congested waters
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Equipment failure
- Exceeding vessel weight capacity
- Failure to yield
- Inexperienced operators
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Water hazards
