For many, spending the day on a boat is their idea of heaven. It is a way for them to relax and recharge after a difficult week. However, it is important for people to remember that drinking while operating a water vessel can lead to serious, deadly boat accidents. As a result of such an accident in Connecticut, one man now faces up to five years in prison.

In April 2012, a 42-year old man was boating with his 40-year-old friend. Reports indicate the man was operating his boat while under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, he was moving too fast in a no wake zone.

The boat reportedly ran aground. The passenger was thrown into a tree before landing in the water. He was pulled from the water, but later died at an area hospital. The boat’s operator, who only received minor injuries in the accident, has recently accepted a plea deal related to manslaughter. Due to the deal, the man faces five years in prison followed by three years of parole.

Most everyone understands the grief that comes with the loss of a loved one. However, few truly understand the financial repercussions of such an unexpected loss. Many other victims of boat accidents, or their families in the case of a fatality, have found relief for burdens such as funeral expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering by filing a civil case in a Connecticut court. If it can be proven that the boat driver’s negligence caused the man’s death, a claim seemingly supported by the recent guilty plea, the court could award the family with monetary damages.

Source: The Hartford Courant, Middletown Man Who Crashed Boat, Killing Friend, Faces Prison, David Owens, Dec. 21, 2013