Sadly, a family trip on a yacht to watch the Fourth of July fireworks ended in the death of three children aged 12, 11 and 8. The boat, which was pulled out of New York’s Long Island Sound on July 5, was scheduled to provide family and friends with the perfect place to view the Fourth of July fireworks.
Safety officials say that the boat may have been overcrowded, according to news reports. The boat was carrying 27 people.The skipper, however, blames the tragedy on a wave that “came out of the dark.” The captain of the vessel told reporters that he saw two lightning bolts that were followed by a huge wave which ultimately capsized the yacht. Sadly, the three children who were killed in the incident were trapped below when the boat capsized. The remaining 24 passengers were rescued without any serious injuries.
The Dangers of Boating Accidents
Boating is among the most popular summer activities in the New York and New Jersey areas because of their proximity to water. While boating can provide hours of pleasure, people often forget how potentially dangerous a boat can be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, someone dies every day, on average, across the country in a boating accident. Children are most at risk for drowning accidents in general. One out of every five drowning fatalities is a child under the age of 14 years old.
Boats carry with them many of the same risks as vehicles driven on dry land. The operator of a boat may be operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, may be distracted, may be driving while fatigued, or may simply not have the experience to operate the boat. In addition, boaters have weather conditions to contend with that can cause even the most experienced operator to lose control of the boat.
Who Is To Blame in a Boating Accident?
Last week’s tragic boating accident is currently under investigation. According to authorities, the manufacturer of the boat filed for bankruptcy recently, so no one was available to comment on what the maximum capacity of the boat should have been. Other boaters who saw the boat before the tragedy indicated that it looked like there were far too many people on the boat to operate safely. It will likely be months before we know what actually caused the accident.
If you have been injured in a New York or New Jersey boating accident, or have lost a loved one as the result of a job-related boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or your loss. The NY / NJ boating accident lawyers at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd have both the experience and the resources to properly investigate your injuries and fight for the compensation to which you are entitled. With six offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you.
Contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 for your free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.