Indiana Boat Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured, contact a Indiana boat accident injury lawyer at Woods and Woods. With offices in Evansville, Indiana , including Jasper and Vincennes.

There are over 200,000 boats registered in Indiana and over 170,000 in Kentucky, all with free access to the area waterways for fishing and other recreational activities. Kentucky and Indiana are home to over 1,000 square miles of rivers, lakes, streams and creeks, including the Ohio River that serves as a shared border. With the ready availability of such natural resources, the number of boats has been steadily increasing. However, the number of recreational boating accident fatalities has been decreasing in recent years.

But nationwide, hundreds of people still die every year in recreational boating accidents. In 2004, there were over 4,000 injuries in recreational boating accidents resulting in 676 fatalities.* And it is estimated that only 5-10% of non-fatal boating catastrophes are reported. If you have been injured in a boating or swimming accident, you need an experienced boating accident personal injury attorney on your side.

Boating Accident Causes

Most maritime injuries in Indiana and other areas are preventable disasters caused by operator inexperience or inattention. Statistically, 84% of all boating fatalities occur on boats where the operator has not completed a boating safety education course. The primary causes of water injury disasters include:

• Operator inattention.

• Careless/reckless operation.

• Operator inexperience.

• Operating at an unsafe speed.

• No proper lookout.

Boating Accidents & Alcohol

Alcohol consumption accounts for nearly one-third of all recreational boating fatalities, a figure that is increasing. Alcohol use is the number one cause for boating accident deaths. Most boaters do not realize that the effects of alcohol are magnified while on the water. It is estimated that intoxicated boaters are more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident because of:

• Diminished coordination.

• Susceptibility to hypothermia.

• Dehydration.

• Impaired judgment.

It is illegal to operate a boat, or allow others to do so, while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or barbiturates. In Indiana, a person is considered legally intoxicated if blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 or greater. Penalties may include fines, prison time, community service, mandatory substance abuse counseling, and more.

Types of Boating Accidents

In the U.S., vessel collisions are the most common type of accident and resulted in over one-fourth of the reported injuries and $34 million in property damage in 2004. Eight percent of all boating accident result in fatalities. More than half of boating accident fatalities occur because of capsizing and falls overboard, with 90% of those victims drowning; of those drowning, 86% did not wear a life jacket. Types of recreational water vessel accidents may include:

• Capsizing.

• Falls overboard.

• Collisions with another vessel or structure.

• Fire.

• Sinking, flooding.

• Explosions.

• Disappearance of vessel or passenger.

Boating Accident Prevention

When operating a recreational vessel, steps can be taken to prevent a Indiana boating accident or to minimize the damage if an accident occurs:

• Always wear life jackets and dress for possible immersion.

• Be aware that cold weather is more dangerous: there are fewer boaters and patrols to rescue those in distress, and the water is much colder.

• Do not drink alcohol while on the water.

• When in larger bodies of water, take advantage of available distress-alerting and position-indicating technologies.

What if a Indiana boating accident occurs?

The operator of a boat is required to file an accident report with the proper authorities when any of the following conditions occur:

• A life is lost due to the accident.

• Someone sustains an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.

• Property damage in excess of $750 (Indiana) or $500 (Kentucky), or complete loss of the vessel.

• A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury.

If the operator is unable to file the report, the owner must file. In Indiana, all incidents must be reported within 24 hours. In Kentucky, death and injury reports must be filed within 48 hours; damage reports must be filed within 5 days.

Free Consultation

If you’ve been injured in a boat accident, contact a Indiana injury lawyer at Woods and Woods today. Our main office is located in Evansville, Indiana, and serve Jasper and Vincennes. Complete a Free Online Consultation Form or call us at 812-426-7200 for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.

*Source: U.S. Coast Guard (2006) for all facts and figures

© 2006 Woods and Woods Evansville, Indiana Injury Lawyers.
| Print This Page | Disclaimer | Site Map | Empowered by cj Advertising | Links | Blog