Phoenix, Ariz., June 3, 2009.  With the warm weather and open spaces that the state has to offer, Arizonans enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation during the summer months, including boating and riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). While these activities can provide a memorable experience for the entire family, owners may be unknowingly taking a chance on personal and financial losses.

That’s because in Arizona, boats and non-street legal ATVs are not required by law to be insured – yet hundreds of crashes involving this equipment occur in Arizona each year, resulting in more than a thousand injuries and fatalities.

In 2008, 197 boat crashes occurred in Arizona, resulting in 124 injuries and 6 fatalities, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In addition, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, from 2005 to 2007, there were 52 ATV-related deaths throughout the state. In 2007 alone, 804 trauma cases stemming from ATV-related crashes were reported, including 12 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

“While Arizona does not require insurance for boats and non-street legal ATVs, owners who choose to forego the minimal cost to insure these recreational vehicles are taking great risks – especially considering the number of incidents that occur with this  equipment each year,” said Brad Oltmans, vice president of insurance services for AAA Arizona. “Owners should make sure that their insurance policy provides sufficient bodily injury, property damage, guest passenger liability and medical coverage, in the event a tragedy occurs.”

If an uninsured boat or non-street legal ATV is involved in a collision, the operator could be sued for damages by the injured party, property or vehicle owner as well as issued citations for statutes that were violated involving the collision.

In addition, if a motorist is towing uninsured watercraft and the trailer and/or watercraft becomes dislodged and damages another vehicle or property, the motorist could be held financially responsible if their vehicle or trailer insurance does not have sufficient liability coverage.

For these reasons, AAA Arizona strongly encourages owners of recreational vehicles to insure their property in order to minimize the risk of personal and financial losses. In addition, the auto club would like to offer the following information and insurance tips to boat and ATV owners:

Boat Owners

• Protect yourself against liability. AAA Arizona offers collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to liability and uninsured/underinsured coverage.
                      
• Protect your investment. AAA Insurance covers boats up to 50-feet long for up to $250,000 in value, and jet skis and wave runners up to $27,000 in value. The auto club’s policy also offers “total loss replacement,” which can cover the full replacement cost of a new boat during the first three years of the policy. 

• Know what coverage do and don’t already have. Homeowner’s or renters insurance often times covers small boats such as canoes as well as small sail boats and motor boats that go less than 25 mph. However, the coverage is generally limited to about $1,000 or 10 percent of home value and does not generally include liability coverage.
                     
• Determine how many policies you may need. Larger boats and personal water craft, such as jet skis and wave runners, could require separate policies. That’s because the size, type, value of the property and water in which you use it are factored in to premium prices.
   
• Seek discounts. Boat owners can reduce premiums by operating a diesel-powered craft, keeping Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers and ship-to-shore radios on board and have at least two years of claim free experience.

ATV Owners

• Know the law. While non-street legal ATVs aren’t required to be insured per Arizona state law, ATVs licensed for street use or if there is a lien holder are required to carry bodily injury and property damage liability coverage.

• Know when you’re covered and when you’re not. In some cases, ATVs can be covered by homeowner insurance, but only when they are used on the homeowner’s premises. A stand-alone policy will cover an ATV away from home as well provide coverage of on and off-road use.

“We encourage boat and ATV owners to contact their insurance agent to find a policy that fits their needs and budgets while providing true coverage in the event of a loss,” Oltmans said.

With nearly a third of all boat and ATV crashes occurring during the summer months, AAA Arizona would also like to encourage boat owners and ATV operators of the following safety tips:

• Protect yourself. Always wear a life jacket on a boat and a helmet and protective safety gear when riding an ATV. On average, 90 percent of boat fatalities reported annually were not wearing safety vests, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition, approximately three-quarters of annual ATV trauma victims were not wearing a helmet according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Stay sober. Drugs and alcohol impair reaction time and judgment, skills that are critical when operating a boat or ATV. In addition, beware of prescription medications, which could have side effects and adversely affect your ability to operate a boat or ATV. In addition, citations for operating a boat or driving an off-road vehicle while under the influence carry similar repercussions as a DUI, including fines and jail time.

• Know the risks of the equipment. Many fatalities involving ATVs are a result of a driver losing control of the equipment. Factors that can reduce a driver’s control are passengers and driving on paved roads. In addition, children under the age of 16 on adult ATVs are twice as likely to be injured as those riding more size appropriate youth ATVs.

• Seek hands-on training/education. Many boat and ATV crashes are the result of an inexperienced operator. Boat operators can take a boating education course through the Arizona Game and Fish Department. ATV riders can take a course which provides professional training through the ATV Safety Institute.

To request a quote or learn more about AAA Arizona’s boat and ATV insurance options, call 1-866-298-1232, visit www.AAA.com/insurance or stop by any AAA branch office.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.