QUEENS BOAT ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
We’ve been handling boat accidents cases for more than 60 years
New York City and Nassau County have many waterways, making boating accidents in our area all too common. Our Personal Injury Attorneys at our Queens office can ensure that you are properly compensated for the injuries you sustain in any boating accident. Rest assured that with an experienced Queens Boat Accident Attorney at your side, you can concentrate on getting the medical treatment you need, and leave the rest to us.
For generations, residents of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island and Nassau County have trusted to us in their time of need. We will always fully investigate your accident and get you the compensation you deserve. Queens Boat Accident Attorney, Wittenstein & Wittenstein, will be there with you every step of the way.
Common Types of Boating Accidents:
- Fishing Boat Accidents
- Chartered Pleasure Craft and Yacht Accidents
- SpeedboatAccudents
- Cruise Ships Accidents (also accidents aboard these ships)
- Jet Ski Accidents
- Waterskiing Accidents
- Sailing Accidents
Causes of Boating Accidents:
- Operating a boat under the influence is the number one cause
- Sudden weather changes
- Poor maintenance of the boat
- Negligent operation of the boat, including poor anchoring technique
Boating is a popular recreational activity in Queens and Long Island. Serious boat accidents are rare, but when you are injured by a negligent boat operator, you have a right to seek compensation. Serious injuries can result in large medical bills and lost time from work that can put a huge financial strain on a family. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a boating accident, we will be happy to provide a free consultation with an experienced Queens Boat Accident Attorney. Call Wittenstein & Wittenstein at 718-261-8114
HOW COMMON ARE RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENTS?
The Coast Guard estimates that over 4,000 death and close to 3000 injuries each year are caused by boating accidents. Over 70 percent of the deaths were caused by drowning, and a shocking 85% of the victims were not wearing life vests! Most of the boaters were in craft less than 21 feet long. Over 20 percent of the accidents involved alcohol consumption. Over 80% of the operators had received no boating safety instruction, and only 14% of the deaths occurred where operators had completed safety education certification. Motorboats had the highest rate of accidents, followed by a personal craft and cabin motorboats.
WHAT CAUSES BOATING ACCIDENTS?
- Collision with a recreational vessel
- Collision with a fixed object
- Swamping or flooding
- Grounding
- Falling Overboard
WHAT TYPES OF VESSELS ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE ACCIDENTS?
- Open motorboat
- Personal watercraft
- Cabin motorboat
- Kayak or Canoe
- Pontoon
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH FOR BOATING ACCIDENTS?
- Drowning
- Trauma’
- Cardiac Arrest
- Hypothermia
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
HOW DO THESE BOATING ACCIDENTS HAPPEN?
- Operator distraction or inattention
- Failing to keep a proper lookout
- Inexperienced operator
- Failure of Machinery
- Alcohol use
- Speeding
- Weather
- Force of a wake
THE WORST BOAT ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY
The captain made a ferry poor decision by continuing into headwinds, rather than running the ship ashore as soon as possible. This fanned the flames! The boat began to fall apart, with passengers drowning when the floors of the ship came apart. Eventually, the boat sank near the Bronx, at North Brother Island. This was not only the worst boat accident in New York City, but one of the worst accidents in Naval History!