What Happened
The Oregon State Police reported a one-vehicle crash on July 18 at 6:45 AM on Highway 22E in Marion County.
The investigation revealed that a 2003 Ford F-250 pickup towing a boat driven by Robert Smith, 61, was driving eastbound when it left the road and slammed into a tree. The driver sustained fatal injuries and died at the crash scene.
The Dangers of Towing a Boat
As personal injury attorneys in Oregon, The Herron Law Firm would like to remind readers of the dangers of towing trailers and other large objects, such as boats. Many people who tow boats are not experienced and this can lead to serious accidents and even deaths.
What To Do
Below are 4 key tips to remember:
#1 Check Brake Lights
One of the biggest hazards of towing something big is not having visible brake lights or turn signals. That is why a boat trailer is equipped with them, which eliminates this danger.
But it is not unusual for bulbs to burn out, or even worse, for them to become disconnected without your knowledge. If your boat has inoperable brake lights, this can lead to major accidents and civil lawsuits.
#2 Wrong Ball Hitch
If the ball hitch is incorrect on your vehicle, the boat will sway when you hit a bump or a tractor trailer blows past. Or, the hitch will hit the ground when you go over railroad tracks.
It is vital to be certain that the boat is level. If it is not, then you have to adjust the height of the ball hitch.
#3 Not Remembering What You Are Towing
It is easy to forget you are towing a boat that weighs a few thousand pounds. It is important to be awake and alert at all times when towing any kind of trailer. All it takes is a moment of inattention for you to drift a bit off the road and disaster strikes. In the above accident, we don’t know what led the driver to leave the roadway. But when you are towing a boat, you have much less room for error. Closing one’s eyes for a moment, checking the cell phone, fiddling with the radio, can cause a fatal accident.
In this boat accident, it is fortunate there were no other drivers or passengers involved. If other people are injured or killed, you can face a major personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even if you have insurance, you could end up on the hook for whatever your insurance policy does not cover.
#4 Not Securing Gear
Another way boat towing accidents happen is when drivers do not secure the gear in the boat. Make sure everything is put away or tied down in the boat so it does not blow out and cause an accident for drivers behind you.
Remember to follow the tips above if you are going to be towing a boat. Staying safe while towing a boat will get you safely to the water and will prevent you from having legal troubles for accidents.