How to Avoid a Michigan Boat Accident with your Boat Injury Law Firm

Michigan is home to more inland lakes than any other state in the union. Boating is a Michigander pastime; and Goodwin & Scieszka is your boat injury law firm. In an effort to reduce the very injuries that we often defend, we thought we’d give you some tips to avoid a potential boating injury.

Today’s post concerns nighttime boating procedures. According to Michigan.gov’s website:

These are the 4 lights that you should know about:

Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side.

Sternlight: This white light is seen from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

Masthead Light: This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels.

A masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. The absence of this light indicates a sailboat under sail.

All-Round White Light: On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.

When approaching an oncoming boat, check to see what light they have to know what right of way to give:

• If green yield to the left
• If white go to the right
• Give way to red and white lights
• Only white means that the boat is anchored

Having spent the last 30 years litigating a wide range of cases, boating accidents have been traumatic and plentiful. Our firm wants to remind you to practice smart boating procedures to ensure that your family is safe on the water. And remember, Goodwin & Scieszka is always here for you in the event that you’re injured in any type of boating accident.

Our personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Goodwin & Scieszka are experienced in other areas of injury law, like medical malpractice cases and slip and fall accident claims. Contact us to see how we can help you recieve fair compensation.