Boats can weigh multiple tons, and a collision at even a few miles per hour can inflict severe injuries. These can include broken bones, separated joints, severe lacerations, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injuries.
These injuries can prove especially hazardous since many of these incidents happen on the water, and far from land. This can significantly increase the danger to the injured boater in that they may need to wait longer for emergency services or run the risk of drowning.