California Boat Accident Attorneys Discuss Traumatic Brain Injury Risks in Sailing

by Staff Blogger | August 11th, 2015

Due to San Francisco’s close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, sailing is a popular hobby in the Bay Area. It’s important for boaters to be aware of the risk of injury sailing can pose. One of the most common types of injuries reported in sailing are traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be the result of a boater coming into contact with the vessel or it’s parts. The boom of a vessel may pose a particular risk because of how heavy and hard the aluminum part can be, coupled with the fact the part moves across the vessel at almost eye level. An article from Scuttlebutt Sailing News points out several ways you can reduce your chances of suffering a TBI. One is to install taller and lighter booms on your vessel. This can reduce the chances of contact with the part and lower the likelihood of injury in the event an accident occurs. Wearing a helmet can also significantly reduce your chances of suffering a TBI while sailing. The article goes on to explain that these changes were adopted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sailing events and have been effective in reducing the program’s injury rates. Promoting safety is important to our legal team at Berg Injury Lawyers and our California boat accident attorneys are hopeful that these tips can help you and your loved ones stay accident-free while on the water.