What You Should Do if a Fire Erupts on Your Boat While Underway
A fire breaking out on your boat while it is underway is very frightening. It presents a risk of serious or fatal injuries to all passengers on the vessel, and responding fast in these situations is key to reducing that risk somewhat. Still, you shouldn’t put yourself in danger to stop a fire, and should abandon the boat if a marine fire extinguisher cannot do the job.
Always stop the engine, especially if the fire erupts near the engine. Doing this can cut off the fuel supply for the fire and reduce the risk of an explosion. Radio for help so first responders know where to locate the wreckage and all passengers in case you must abandon the vessel for your own safety. You should immediately go to the hospital if you’re injured in a boat fire. You should also contact our lawyers soon to see if the boat manufacturer or another party is liable.
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind’s boating accident lawyers to get a free case assessment at (305) 204-5369.
What Should You Do if a Fire Erupts While Your Boat is Underway?
Do your best to stay calm if a fire erupts while your boat is underway, and prioritize your safety and your passengers’ safety above all else.
Stop the Engine
If a fire erupts while your boat is underway, you should immediately cut the engine. Engine fires are very common on recreational and fishing boats, so stopping the engine is crucial to stopping the fire from growing.
Alert Passengers
You should also immediately alert everyone on board about the fire. Tell all passengers to put personal flotation devices on right away in case they must abandon the vessel because of the fire and risk of capsizing.
Extinguish Fire or Abandon the Boat
All vessels should have the appropriate marine fire extinguishers, and you may use them to fight the fire and stop it from spreading. Don’t try to extinguish a fire that is too large and requires more than a marine fire extinguisher. If the fire gets too big too fast, you and other passengers may have to abandon the vessel.
If it’s safe, try positioning the boat so the fire is downwind. This can help stop the fire from growing and keep it manageable enough to address with a marine fire extinguisher.
Call for Help
Don’t hesitate to call for help if a fire breaks out on your boat while it’s underway. Use the VHF radio on the boat, or call 911 if you have cell phone service. If you and other passengers must abandon the vessel because the fire is too large and inextinguishable, and the boat may sink, calling for help ensures the appropriate authorities will arrive for rescue efforts.
What to Do if You Are Injured Because a Fire Erupted on Your Boat
Fires on boats put operators and passengers at risk of permanent thermal burn injuries, drowning injuries, lung damage from smoke inhalation, and even fall-related injuries. If you are injured during a boat fire, seek immediate medical attention.
Getting medical care generates vital medical documentation, which is crucial for proving injuries and filing a lawsuit. Bad burns, brain injuries due to a lack of oxygen, and other injuries common in boat fires should be treated immediately. Otherwise, there is a much higher chance of victims contracting infections or their injuries getting even worse.
Also, if you are injured in a fire that erupted on your vessel, contact our Everglades boating accident lawyers. While such incidents may seem entirely accidental, we may hold someone accountable for whatever damages you incur.
Who Can You Sue if a Fire Breaks Out on a Boat While it is Underway?
Even if you kept up with your boat’s maintenance and kept it free from fire hazards, a fire might erupt due to someone else’s negligence. Don’t assume the fire was entirely random; let us determine if the boat producer or part manufacturer is ultimately responsible.
Defective engines or other parts of boats significantly increase the risk of sudden fires erupting while vessels are underway. Pinpointing the fire’s origin helps us prove it began in and was caused by the engine. Minor issues with individual components may have major consequences and spark a fire that the boat owner could do nothing to prevent.
Suppose another boat collides with yours, causing a fire to erupt and injuring you. In that case, the other boater would be liable, and our attorneys could help you file a personal injury claim against them.
Should You Sue if Fire Erupts on Your Boat While it is Underway?
Suppose poor installation, design, or manufacturing of engine parts or other components of a boat caused a fire that injured you and other passengers. In that case, you shouldn’t have to cover the damages yourself. The same is true for injuries due to fires caused by vessel collisions.
Bad injuries from fires are very common and often permanent. Burns and scarring can cause extreme pain and suffering for victims, on top of expensive economic damages. The mental anguish, embarrassment, and general distress you feel because of permanent facial scars are likely significant, and you deserve compensation for these damages.
Boat fires often mean costly economic damages, starting with medical expenses and property damage costs. Any damages associated with search and rescue efforts if a boat capsizes due to a fire, as well as the damages from being unable to work, are also compensable.
Let us confirm if you have reason to sue if a fire erupts on your boat while it’s underway, and we can help you file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations, likely two years.
Call Us After a Fire Erupts on Your Boat
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind at (305) 204-5369 to get a free case evaluation from our Ft. Lauderdale boating accident lawyers.
