When you fantasize about winning the lottery or making a lot of money in business, you cannot help but think about owning a yacht. Even if you are not lucky enough to own one of these luxury crafts, you may be invited to take a trip on one.
If you do take a yacht trip, you will have to adhere to all the same safety precautions as you would on any other sea craft. Although, it may seem like it would guarantee certain death, people do fall off of yachts and survive. People do fall overboard on yachts, and there are a few things you can do to ensure your survival.
Keep Your Cool
It is never a good idea to panic when you have had an accident. You will only waste energy if you splash around in the water. If you have a lot of body fat, you might be able to float without having to expend too much energy treading water.
If you are wearing a life jacket, you will not have to tread water. You should leave your clothes on as the material they are made with will increase your buoyancy. If you see a life jacket floating on the water, put it on.
How To Stay Warm
Ocean water is cold, and if you are in it for very long, you may freeze to death. You should pull your knees towards you and hold them. This will obviously be much easier if you are wearing a life jacket.
Decide Whether Or Not You Can Swim To Safety
If the current is not strong, you may want to consider swimming to shore or back to the boat. You should not waste your energy if the current is too strong. If you think that other boaters may not be able to see you, it is probably not safe to swim in front of them.
When you fall into the water, somebody should call out, “man overboard.” Unfortunately, there are many situations in which no one sees a person who falls overboard. You should stay near the boat in case they try to throw you a line or a buoy.
Hiring An Attorney
When you travel with someone wealthy enough to own a yacht, you may think they will definitely have insurance and take care of you if you fall overboard or are injured on their craft. This is not always true, and in some cases, you may need to speak with an experienced boat accident lawyer to help you recover the money you need.
You should look for a personal injury attorney who has years of experience with boating accidents. They can act as a go-between for you and the insurance company. If you pick an attorney who has years of experience dealing with overboard accidents or accidents at sea, you’re more likely to get a fair settlement.
If they are unable to work out a deal for you, they will be able to represent you in court. Taking a yacht ride should be fun, but, unfortunately, thousands of people are injured in boating accidents every year. Remember to take safety precautions and contact an attorney who can help you if you get hurt.
