# Safe Boating at Lake Houston | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Boat Owner Responsibilities 2. Best Practices for Passengers and Swimmers 3. Should You File a Personal Injury Case After Suffering a Boating Injury? 4. Contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Many [Texas](https://www.texas.gov/) residents will take to Lake Houston this summer to enjoy boating and other watercraft during the hot weather. Boating can be a great way to spend a summer day until an injury occurs. It’s essential for boat owners to know their responsibilities to their passengers and other boaters, just as a person who sustains an injury in a boating accident should know his or her rights and options for legal recourse. As part of our series on summer safety, Attorney Brian White and his team of Houston boat accident attorneys want Houston residents to know a few best practices for safe boating at Lake Houston this summer. ## Boat Owner Responsibilities It is a boat owner’s responsibility to ensure that the craft is safe for navigating Lake Houston and includes all required safety equipment under Texas law. According to the National Safety Council’s statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, 84% of drowning victims in boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. About 78% of all boating deaths are from drowning, so it’s essential for all boat owners to keep one life jacket per passenger on their crafts for every trip. Boat owners should require every passenger to wear a life jacket and make sure they fit appropriately. Children should only wear life jackets sized for children to avoid slipping out of them in the water. Boat owners must also complete required safety courses and meet the state’s requirements for operating a watercraft. Special rules exist for personal watercraft such as Jet Skis as well. Boat owners should also keep emergency equipment such as tools, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits on board as needed. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Best Practices for Passengers and Swimmers If you plan to ride on a boat as a passenger, make sure to follow the boat operator’s instructions during your ride. Even if you are confident in your swimming ability you should still wear a lifejacket on the boat. A sudden bump or capsizing could cause you to hit your head and slip under the water without a flotation device. Make sure your lifejacket is undamaged and functional before wearing it, and make sure to fit it correctly. If you plan to swim in Lake Houston where boaters may be present, be sure to swim only in designated areas and make yourself as visible as possible. A passing boat may not notice a swimmer’s head sticking out of the water, potentially causing severe injuries or drowning. Only swim in approved areas and avoid swimming alone or at night when you will be even less visible to boaters. ## Should You File a Personal Injury Case After Suffering a Boating Injury? If you sustain injuries due to negligence while boating, you could have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused your injuries. If a boat operator disregards posted signs, travels too fast, or does not have appropriate safety equipment on board, the operator could absorb liability in the event of an accident. If a boat owner operates a boat under the influence of alcohol, he or she could lose his or her driver’s license in addition to other legal penalties. Although Texas’ open container law does not apply to watercraft, it’s imperative for boat operators to refrain from consuming alcohol or other drugs before operating their vessels. If your injuries resulted from a defective product such as a faulty life jacket or defective personal watercraft, you may have the option of filing a product liability [claim](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/claim-vs-lawsuit/) against the manufacturer. In this case, you will not necessarily have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product in question is indeed defective and the defect directly caused your damages. One of the best resources of information after a boating accident is a reliable [Houston injury lawyer](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/), so keep Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in mind after any boating accident on Lake Houston. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help Our offices Houston — Greenway/Upper Kirby 3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, TX 77098 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 364-1466](tel:+17133641466) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%203120%20Southwest%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20350%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077098) Houston — East Freeway 11811 East Freeway, Suite 630-06 Houston, TX 77029 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 609-1893](tel:+17136091893) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011811%20East%20Freeway%2C%20Suite%20630-06%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077029) Houston — South Loop 2600 South Loop West, Suite 293 Houston, TX 77054 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 281-4904](tel:+17132814904) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%202600%20South%20Loop%20West%2C%20Suite%20293%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077054) Houston — Katy Freeway 11511 Katy Fwy, Suite 515 Houston, TX 77079 Open 24 hours daily Call [(713) 909-7537](tel:+17139097537) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%2011511%20Katy%20Fwy%2C%20Suite%20515%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077079) Houston — Clear Lake 1300 Bay Area Blvd, Suite B268 Houston, TX 77058 By appointment only Call [(936) 508-2854](tel:+19365082854) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201300%20Bay%20Area%20Blvd%2C%20Suite%20B268%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077058) The Woodlands 1776 Woodstead Ct, Ste. 203 The Woodlands, TX 77380 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%201776%20Woodstead%20Ct%2C%20Ste.%20203%2C%20The%20Woodlands%2C%20TX%2077380) Champion Forest (Cypress) 4606 FM 1960 Rd W, Ste. 444 Houston, TX 77069 By appointment only Call [(281) 843-9777](tel:+12818439777) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Attorney%20Brian%20White%20Personal%20Injury%20Lawyers%2C%204606%20FM%201960%20Rd%20W%2C%20Ste.%20444%2C%20Houston%2C%20TX%2077069) --- ### About the Author Brian White ![About the Author Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/brian-white-houston-personal-injury-lawyer-300x300.jpg) [Brian White](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/our-attorneys/brian-white/) earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a [Board-Certified](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/brian-white-is-board-certified-in-personal-injury-trial-law/) Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and [community initiatives](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/community-involvement/). [Client testimonials](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/testimonials/) highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents. [Avvo](https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/77098-tx-brian-white-74113.html) / [Justia](https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/brian-elliott-white-201630) / [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorney-brian-white-378410166) / [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBrianWhiteLawFirm%2F/) / [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdkDcGkbY2GFTzpeTWypFQ) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/attorneybrianwhite/?hl=en) / [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/brian-white-and-associates-houston) / Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Boating Accidents Blog Posts: [![Houston Boating Safety Checklist](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Houston-Boating-Safety-Checklist-300x183.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/houston-boating-safety-checklist/) [Houston Boating Safety Checklist](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/houston-boating-safety-checklist/) The Lone Star State has roughly 1.7 million acres of freshwater inland lakes, providing plenty of opportunities for [![San Jacinto River Body Found After Tug Boat Overturns](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/san-jacinto-river-body-found-after-tug-boat-overturns/) [San Jacinto River Body Found After Tug Boat Overturns](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/san-jacinto-river-body-found-after-tug-boat-overturns/) April 19, 2016, Harris County, TX -- The body of a drowned man was recovered by the Harris County Sheriff's Office --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/safe-boating-at-lake-houston/