Boating is a popular pastime across Texas, especially during the warmer months, but it can quickly turn tragic when safety takes a back seat. Every year, we see preventable deaths from boating incidents, many involving children. These heartbreaking cases often share the same underlying causes: recklessness, carelessness, and a complete failure to prioritize safety on the water.
At The Button Law Firm, we want to shed light on the serious issue of child deaths caused by boating incidents—and why accountability matters when the unthinkable happens.
What Causes Child Deaths in Boating Incidents?
Boat owners and operators are responsible for keeping every passenger safe, especially children. But when they ignore basic safety protocols, the risk of tragedy increases dramatically. Some of the most common and dangerous actions that can lead to a child’s death on the water include:
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Operating the boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
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Reckless driving, such as speeding or taking sharp turns without warning
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Failing to provide or enforce the use of life jackets for everyone on board, especially young passengers
These aren’t harmless mistakes—they’re negligent choices that put lives at risk. And when a child’s life is lost because of those choices, the adults responsible must be held accountable.
Drowning Is the Leading Cause of Boating Deaths
Boating incidents can involve collisions, falls overboard, or being struck by a propeller, but the most common cause of death is drowning. In fact, nearly 80% of recent boating fatalities in Texas were the result of drowning. And for children, the risk is especially high.
Kids may not always recognize danger in the water, may panic if they fall in, and often go unnoticed in the chaos of a boating emergency. That’s why boat owners and operators are responsible for ensuring proper supervision, enforcing life jacket use, and following every safety precaution to prevent these tragedies.
Accountability After a Tragic Loss
Losing a child is unimaginable—and when it happens because someone else was careless, the pain is even harder to bear. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
If your child was killed in a boating incident, The Button Law Firm is here to support you and help you take action. You can call us directly at (214) 699-4409, email intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or reach out through our secure contact form. Let’s work together to get your family the answers—and the justice—you deserve.
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