Archive for the ‘ Boat Accident ’ Category

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1
Aug

Three Seriously Injured in Separate Indiana Boating Accidents

August 1, 2012

Two Indiana boating accidents that left three people seriously injured show the importance of always wearing a life preserver.

According to The Courier-Journal, the first accident occurred Saturday on the Patoka Lake Reservoir at around 3:00 p.m., near Goose Island. Reports indicate that a 32-year-old woman, from Louisville, Kentucky, was operating a 2005 Honda Aqua Trax Jet ski with a 14-year-old passenger when she hit a wave and went airborne, ejecting her and her passenger.

Both were taken to a local hospital, where the boy received treatment for a head injury and was released, while woman remains hospitalized in fair but stable condition. Investigators say the two are alive because of the life preservers they were wearing.

The following day, another accident on the Mississinewa Reservoir left a 22-year-old man critically injured. It happened when three young men jumped from a moving boat at approximately 40-50 mph. One of the men struck something in the water and suffered a skull fracture and severe cut to the hand. The victim remains hospitalized with an Indiana brain injury. None of the men were wearing life preservers.

The Indiana disability lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin say it is also important to ensure that each passenger of your boat has a life preserver that is age and weight appropriate for that individual. Using a life preserver that is the wrong size could prove to be deadly.

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30
May

Indiana Law Enforcement Focusing On Boater Safety

May 30, 2012

With Memorial Day weekend marking the beginning of summer for many, Indiana law enforcement is beginning to focus more on water and boating safety.

According to WTHITV 10 News, the U.S. Coast Guard estimated that 758 fatalities were reported on the water across the country last year, more than half of which occurred during the summer months. The most common reasons the accidents occurred were because of:

  • operator inattention,
  • operator inexperience,
  • improper lookout,
  • and excessive speed.

One such accident occurred over the weekend on Saturday at nearby Fox Lake when an inebriated boater collided his vessel with another while out on the water. Reports indicate that the incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. in Myers Bay when a 36-year-old man drove his powerboat into the front end of a pontoon boat. One woman suffered facial lacerations and other injuries that required her to be hospitalized as a result of the accident.

Experts say most boat operators could avoid such accidents simply by being more vigilant of their surroundings. It’s also important to remember to have a life jacket onboard the vessel for each passenger.

The Indiana Injury Lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin know that boat accidents can be responsible for any number of injuries, including brain injuries and Spinal Cord injuries. That’s why they would also ask that anyone who is planning on driving a boat to refrain from drinking alcohol before or while on the water.

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13
Jul

Swim Lessons Make Lebanon Boy a Lifesaver for Baby Sister

July 13, 2011

An 8-year-old boy hopes to spread the message that swim lessons save lives after jumping in the family pool to rescue his baby sister earlier this month in Lebanon, Indiana. According to WISHTV 8 News, the boy found his 2-year-old sister gasping for breath in the family pool and jumped in to save her. The boy and his family credit his swimming abilities, which have developed throughout years of lessons, for rescuing his sister from drowning. The young hero was honored by the local fire department, who presented him with a certificate of recognition for his achievement in water rescue.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) reports drowning as the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four. These statistics, as well as 19 total drowning deaths in Indiana this year alone, serve as powerful reminders to observe water safety basics.

The American Red Cross offers four simple tips for staying safe around water:

  • Make water safety a priority
  • Prevent unsupervised access to the water
  • Maintain constant supervision
  • Know what to do in an emergency

The Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin wish everyone a great summer on the water, and hope you’ll keep safety in mind while enjoying the pool, lake, river, or beach.

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