Boating is a popular pastime in and around Charleston. With about 8,000 miles of river, 3,000 miles of coastline, and nearly half a million acres of lakes, South Carolina offers many opportunities for boating and other water recreation.
Though South Carolina falls far below top states like California and Michigan for the number of registered recreational vessels, the state comes in at #2 for its rate of boats and yachts per resident. There are roughly 11 boats and yachts for every 100 people in the state, and about 3.5 of those are recreational vessels.
Of course, those activities carry risks. Knowing what they are can help keep you and your family safe on the water.
2024 Boating Accidents and Fatalities
Each year, the U.S. Coast Guard releases a report on boating statistics. The report includes not only the number of boating incidents, injuries, and deaths, but also in-depth information about the types of incidents, types of vessels, causes, and more.
South Carolina Boating Accident Statistics
According to the Coast Guard, there were 154 boating “incidents” in South Carolina in 2024, resulting in 10 deaths. That’s the lowest number of fatalities the state has seen in several years. However, these numbers do not include incidents that occur on private bodies of water that are not subject to regulation.
Nationwide Boating Accident Statistics
Across the country, there were 3,886 reported incidents, resulting in 2,170 injuries and 556 deaths. That’s a rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. It’s also the smallest number of reported boating fatalities in at least 20 years.
Types of Recreational Boating Accidents
In 2024, collisions were the most common first event in boating incidents, accounting for more than half of all events, more than half of all injuries, and nearly one quarter of fatalities. However, those collisions may not be what you’re imagining. More than half involve a vessel colliding with a fixed object, and a small percentage involve collisions with floating objects. Just 41.8% of boating collisions involve two or more vessels colliding.
Other common events include:
- Grounding
- Swamping
- Capsizing
- A person falling overboard or being ejected from the vessel
There were also more than 200 incidents involving fires or explosions, more than half of them fuel-related.
How Do People Die in Boating Accidents?
In 2024, 76% of boating-related fatalities were drowning deaths. 80% of those were on vessels less than 21 feet in length, and 87% were not wearing personal floatation devices.
When Do Boating Accidents Happen?
A boating accident can happen at any time, and a higher number of incidents occur during the summer months when more boats are on the water. However, the fatality rate during those times is significantly lower.
Boating incidents are most likely to involve fatalities when they occur either late at night or during the predawn hours, and during the winter months.
What Types of Boats are Most Commonly Involved in Accidents?
47% of incidents and more than 45% of fatalities in 2024 involved open motorboats. Other types of vessels had mixed statistics, such as a high number of incidents but a smaller number of fatalities. For example:
- Paddlecraft such as canoes and kayaks accounted for the next most deaths, primarily from drowning. But the number of injuries associated with these vessels was small compared with the number of deaths and compared with other types of vessels.
- Personal watercraft such as jet skis accounted for more than 25% of injuries, but just 6.8% of fatalities.
Cabin motorboats and pontoon boats rounded out the top five.
Causal Factors in Boating Incidents, Injuries and Deaths
More than 60% of boating incidents, accounting for 48% of fatalities and 71% of injuries, were attributed primarily to the operation of the vessel. The top six causes in this category include:
- Operator inattention (551 incidents)
- Improper lookout (464 incidents)
- Operator inexperience (436 incidents)
- Navigation rules violations (288 incidents)
- Excessive speed (279 incidents)
- Alcohol use (244 incidents)
The remaining causes in this category, making up just 5% of primary contributing factors, include drug use, restricted vision, starting in gear, sharp turns, failure to vent and inadequate onboard navigation lights.
The next most common category is environmental factors, accounting for about 14% of incidents. The most common factors in this category include weather, hazardous waters, force of wake/waves, and congested waters.
The other categories of contributing factors, accounting for approximately 25% of incidents, include:
- Loading of passengers or gear (150 incidents)
- Failure of boat or equipment (384 incidents)
- Miscellaneous (406 incidents)
The miscellaneous category includes events such as ignition of fuel or vapor, sudden medical conditions, and carbon monoxide exposure.
Compensation for Victims of Boating Accidents
You’ve probably noted that the most common operator-related causes of boating accidents are very similar to common causes of motor vehicle accidents. Boating accidents are also like motor vehicle accidents in that someone whose negligence caused or substantially contributed to the accident is typically liable for damages.
If you’ve been injured in a boating accident because someone else was operating under the influence, not paying attention while piloting a boat, or otherwise negligent, you may be entitled to compensation. The same is true if you were injured due to a defective vessel or component. An experienced Charleston boating accident lawyer is your best source of information and guidance.
To learn more about your rights and options after a boating accident, schedule a free consultation with personal injury attorney Frank Hartman right now. Just call 843-300-7600 or fill out our contact form.