Category : Boating Accidents

Coast Guard 2009 Report Has Lessons on Boat Accident Prevention

This month, the United States Coast Guard released its annual report about boating accidents, injuries and fatalities for the year 2009.  The report comes just in time for Labor Day, when millions of Americans will be out celebrating the holiday weekend on the water.  Consider this-according to the Coast Guard report, only about 2% of all boating accidents in the US in 2009 were caused by mechanical malfunctioning or engine failure.  The rest were all caused by some degree of operator error.

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NTSB: Distractions Cause Boating Accidents

For the first time, the National Transportation Safety Board has warned the US Coast Guard that there is a serious safety problem with many boat operators, including Coast Guard officers. The safety issue is talking or texing on a cell phone while maneuvering a large vessel.

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San Francisco “Ride the Ducks” Accident

It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco, but after a tragic tourist boat accident in the Delaware River in Philadelphia, San Francisco’s “Ride the Ducks” boat has also been canceled.

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Four Coast Guard Officers Charged in Fatal San Diego Boat Accident

Four petty officers of the Coast Guard have been charged in a deadly San Diego boat accident last December that killed an eight-year-old boy and injured five others. The four officers are facing a number of charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, negligence leading to hazard, and dereliction of duty. Of these, charges involving manslaughter are the most serious, and could lead to a 10 year prison sentence.

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Avoid Boating Accidents This Memorial Day Weekend

Boating accidents can make a great weekend go sour. This weekend, across the United States, thousands of boaters will kick off the official start of the summer boating season. In California, thousands of vacationers are expected to be out on the water in all kinds of watercraft. The majority of these people will be college students and teenagers out on the water with little concern for their safety. California boating accident lawyers would recommend the following steps to stay safe on the water this weekend.

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Child Killed in Lake Elsinore, California Boating Accident

The high risk of boating accidents and injuries has been a special concern to California boat accident lawyers this summer. Last week, a tragic boating accident in Lake Elsinore, California claimed the life of a five-year-old boy.

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Huntington Beach Moves to Limit Payout to Family of Junior Lifeguard Killed Last Year

It’s nice to see that Huntington Beach authorities believe that the value of a child’s life is equal to the value of a boat. The city has just moved to take legal action to stop the family of an 11-year-old junior lifeguard, who was killed in a boat accident last year, from suing the city. The city’s lawsuit aims to limit its liability to the value of the vessel involved in the accident.

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California Boating Safety Tips for Summer

The US Coast Guard is warning about the need to follow stringent California boating safety precautions and safe practices to avoid accidents during summer.

With summer approaching quickly there will be large numbers of boaters on California’s waterways, which will lead to an increased risk of boating accidents. Most accidents can be prevented if boaters are trained, avoid boating under the influence and boating at excessive speeds. Some of our California boating safety tips can keep your vacations enjoyable.

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Several Injured in California Ski Boat Accident

Several people suffered injuries, some of them critical ones, in a late night ski boat accident in Lake Havasu in Needles, California.

According to news reports, a 41-year-old Chino resident was driving his ski boat at about 10 PM on Friday on Lake Havasu, when the boat struck a shoreline. The 21-foot Shockwave ski boat was traveling at more than 50 mph at the time of the ski boat accident. The driver of the boat and one other passenger were trapped inside the ski boat. Lake Havasu firefighters had to extricate the two men from beneath the passenger glove compartment and the steering wheel of the boat. In all, six people aboard suffered serious injuries including fractures, and at least two people have suffered life-threatening injuries. Investigators believe that alcohol may have been a factor in this collision.

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Boat Accident in San Diego Kills One, Injures Five

A tragic boat accident in the San Diego Bay has left an 8-year-boy dead and at least 6 people injured. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 8-year-old boy and 5 adults were in a recreational boat during the annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.  The accident occurred when a Coast Guard vessel crashed into the boat which had 13 passengers on board.  Another Coast Guard vessel was able to rush to the scene, and take the injured victims to the hospital. All the injured, including the 8-year-old boy, were rushed to the University of California San Diego Medical Center.  The boy later succumbed to his injuries. Some of the other injuries have been reported to be life threatening.

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