Injuries on your yacht are possible, and you should always know what to do if it happens and take care of it. Yachting is a great hobby for anybody who loves adventure, but it can also come with some risks you must consider. One of these risks is the potential for injury that boaters face every time they venture into the water. Your passengers face this risk, too, so how can you prevent common yacht injuries?
Dealing with Injuries on Your Yacht
There are many ways to minimize risk and prepare for this possibility, including investing in yacht insurance.
Invest in Yacht Insurance
Yacht insurance is essential for anybody who owns a boat. Whether you sail once a week or twice a year, you need insurance to minimize the potential expense of accidents — including injuries. In addition to the apparent risk of physical harm, injuries are a legal liability for yachters. Watercraft liability coverage can mitigate this risk and help you avoid the costs that emerge from litigation or settlements after an injury. In many states, yacht coverage is also legally required to operate watercraft.
Administer Basic First Aid
In the immediate aftermath of an injury, it’s essential to administer basic first aid. The aid you provide will depend on the nature of the injury and its severity. Minor injuries such as cats and scrapes rarely require more than disinfection and a bandage, for example — though it’s important to remember that wounds should never come into contact with raw water. It can cause serious soft tissue infections, and in extreme cases, it may lead to amputation or death.
Get Medical Attention
If an injury is too severe to treat with basic first aid, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you cannot reach the shore promptly, you may radio for emergency assistance and request that medical personnel come to meet your ship. It may be necessary for injuries that involve broken bones, fractures, or any other injury which causes a medical emergency. Yacht insurance may cover the expenses associated with an injury while boating.
Document the Extent of the Injury
When an injury happens on a boat, it may lead to a yacht insurance claim you must file with your insurance company. For this reason, it’s essential to document the injury with photos and videos. If the injury was the result of a boating accident, you should also document the damaged vessels and make a note of the events that caused the crash to occur. Crashes are responsible for many of the most common yacht injuries.
File a Yacht Insurance Claim
Finally, you need to file a claim with your yacht insurance and notify them of the injury that occurred. You should also attach any photos or videos documenting the injury and any medical treatment documentation. If you don’t have yacht insurance, you’re at risk of facing out-of-pocket costs for instances of injury or property damage. Get the right coverage, so you don’t have to worry about excessive medical bills when you or somebody else gets hurt.
About Mariners Insurance
Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.
