Boating Accidents

Miami Boat Accident News: Child Checked Out At Hospital Following Florida Panhandle Boat Crash

August 10, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— August 10, 2011 – Four people, including a child, were occupying a boat that crashed into the sands of a Navarre beach and flipped over on the night of August 7. According to information provided by NWF Daily News, authorities from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are expected to conduct a full probe into the Florida boat accident.

While no serious injuries were reported following a boating accident that occurred on the Intracoastal Waterway in the Florida Panhandle, not all boat crash victims are so fortunate. According to statistical data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), a total of 736 boating deaths resulted from the 4,730 recreational boating accidents that were reported during the year 2009.

Reports indicated a total of four people, one of whom was a child, were aboard a 23-foot recreational vessel when it hit a patch of sand while traveling near the shore along the Intracoastal Waterway. The boat overturned on the sand and careened approximately 20 feet on impact, temporarily trapping passengers beneath it. The boat was allegedly traveling about 40 mph when it hid the sand around 11 p.m.

Upon speaking with Navarre Beach Firefighters, the adults involved in the watercraft accident said they were able to dig their way out and then pull the child, a young boy, out. That child was ultimately transported to Sacred Heart Hospital to be treated for minor injuries sustained in the Florida boating accident.

None of the other passengers aboard the crashed boat appeared to require medical attention. “It’s just amazing that nobody ended up seriously injured,” FWC’s public information officer Stan Kirkland added. Investigations into the boat wreck are underway.

Miami Boat Accident News: Tragedy Hits Second Russian Riverboat; 9 Drowning Deaths Reported in Moscow

August 2, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— August 2, 2011- Less than a month after an overcrowded riverboat capsized on the Volga River in Russia, resulting in the deaths of 122 passengers, tragedy struck aboard a second river cruise ship. According to information provided by the New York Times, nine fatalities were reported on July 31, following an unfortunate boat crash on the Moscow River.
Reports indicated 16 passengers were aboard the river cruise boat when it crashed into a barge along the river in southwest Moscow at approximately 1 a.m. While the cause of the deadly riverboat accident remained unclear, reports by the Russian news agency Interfax suggested the ship was carrying more passengers than it should have been at the time. Nine accident victims reportedly drowned as a result of the collision.
The unidentified ship captain, who was among those killed in the Moscow boat accident, had been charged with the violation of riverboat operating regulations on three separate occasions in the past.
Previous Moscow Times reports relayed by the Miami cruise ship injury attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz, who maintain that cruise ship industry reform is imperative, indicated two people were arrested in connection with the first Russian river disaster. The ship Bulgaria, which was built in 1955, sank on July 10. A total of 122 passengers, 28 of whom were children, died when the ship abruptly capsized on July 10.
Svetlana Inyakina, manager of the company that rented the Bulgaria out, and Yakov Ivashov, senior inspector for the River Register’s local office, were arrested after authorities discovered that they deemed the old ship to be “seaworthy” prior to the 122-fatality ship wreck. The River Register is the government agency that is responsible for maintaining safety within the river transport industry.
Investigations into the fatal boat accident were expected to be underway.

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Miami Boat Accident News: Boynton Beach Boater Killed in Upstate New York Boat Crash

July 28, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL—July 28, 2011 – A Boynton Beach boat operator was killed in a violent boating accident in upstate New York on June 23. The boat crash, which left two addition accident victims injured, occurred on Lake Seneca in close proximity to Watkins Glen, according to information provided by the Associated Press.

While details concerning the fatal boating accident remained scarce, officials from the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office told reporters that an unspecified vessel slammed into a breakwall on the south side of Lake Seneca. Authorities identified the operator of the crashed boat as 42-year-old Boynton Beach man Michael Tangye.
That Florida boater lost his life in the unfortunate boat wreck, while two additional passengers, whom deputies identified as 24-year-old Ashley Kay and 25-year-old Joseph Hager, were rushed to Pennsylvania-based Robert Packer Hospital following the fatal boat accident. As of July 25, medical staff listed the two survivors in stable condition. Investigations into the deadly boat crash are expected to be underway.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) statistics suggested there were 668 boat accidents, resulting in 79 boating deaths and 389 injuries, reported during the year 2010. Furthermore, Florida has more boating accidents than any other state in the nation.

Miami Boating Accident News: Boston Harbor Speedboat Accident Kills 1 Passenger, Seriously Injures Another

July 20, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— July 20, 2011 – A violent boating accident occurred in Boston Harbor on the evening of July 16, 2011, claiming the life of one passenger and leaving another seriously injured. According to information provided by the Associated Press, Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and officials from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) appear to be investigating what might have caused the speedboat involved in the fatal boat accident to abruptly overturn and capsize.

MSP spokesperson David Procopio told reporters that a 30-foot speedboat was navigating Boston Harbor, in close proximity to Boston Light, when the vessel apparently overturned and broke apart at approximately 6:15 p.m. Two unidentified passengers were apparently thrown from the speedboat when it capsized.

Reports indicated one of the accident victims suffered a head injury, while the other sustained a chest wound. One of the boat passengers succumbed to his/her traumatic injuries at the accident site. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel apparently airlifted the second injured passenger to an unspecified hospital in Boston following the boat capsizing.

According to statistics provided by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida leads the U.S. in boating accidents. During the year 2010, 668 boat accidents were reported. Those incidents resulted in 79 boating deaths and left 389 victims suffering from various injuries.

Miami Ship Accident News: 55 Deaths Confirmed After Overcrowded Russian Riverboat Capsizes

July 12, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— July 12, 2011 – An overcrowded ship capsized on the Volga River in Russia on July 10, 2011, resulting in at least 55 fatalities and leaving dozens of additional passengers missing. Although the Russian riverboat had a maximum passenger capacity of 150 people and was only equipped with 156 life vests, 208 people were aboard the vessel “Bulgaria” when it sank, as reported by CNN.

While 79 accident victims have been rescued thus far, many remain missing as the Emergency Situations Ministry regional office is expected to soon bring search and rescue missions to a close. Many of the survivors were reportedly taken to area hospitals to be treated for unspecified injuries.

Noting that the exact number of cruise passengers missing was unknown, officials said there was a possibility survivors may have swam to the riverbank or one of the several neighboring islands. More than 80 rescue divers have taken to the water so far.

According to the Russian Prosecutor’s Office, the corroded and overcrowded Bulgaria cruise ship, which was constructed in 1955, was not a certified passenger ship. Furthermore, the riverboat had not undergone repairs in more than three decades and was operating despite the fact that its left engine was broken before it sank.

According to a crew member aboard the vessel Arabella, which recovered numerous survivors following the capsize disaster, “It all happened so fast. The crew did not have time to pull out the lifeboats and were able to lower only two inflatable rafts. Many passengers simply jumped into the water. Few escaped from the chaos in the water, I’m afraid.”

Following the deadly Russian ship accident, President Dmitry Medvedev contended, “It is clear that such an accident couldn’t have taken place if safety rules were followed, even despite the difficult weather situation… We have to establish why the owner of the ship operated a ship that was in such a poor technical condition.”

Medvedev noted that “a total inspection of all public carriers in Russia” would be underway on the basis that it is “obvious that this ship was not the only one with issues.” Investigations into the cruise ship wreck are underway.

The Miami cruise ship injury attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz note that it is often difficult to hold vessel owners accountable for negligent actions, which can leave passengers and ship crew members subject to preventable harm. For accidents to be prevented and victims to obtain just compensation for their injuries and damages, changes must be made to the cruise industry, which has long lacked sufficient regulation. Reform is imperative.

Miami Ship Accident News UPDATE: Russia Riverboat Accident Death Toll Soars to 104

July 11, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— July 14, 2011 – The death toll in the Russian riverboat accident that occurred along the Volga River has risen from 55 confirmed deaths to 104 deaths, 20 of whom were children. The Moscow Times reported that the recent boat sinking is being regarded as the worst on record in the past three decades.

According to the Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, it took only three minutes for the seemingly corroded ship “Bulgaria” to sink with 208 people on board, 58 more than the maximum passenger capacity permits. Search and rescue missions continue for 25 victims that remained missing and were feared dead following the river disaster.

As of July 13, 95 of the victims who died in the ship accident had been identified. While a crew member that survived the ship wreck argued that the boat capsized as a result of a two-meter wave, the Federal Meteorological Service contested such allegations, maintaining that the waves were not that high and could not have caused such a catastrophe.

Meanwhile, two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the Russian boating accident. Those two people included Svetlana Inyakina, the manager of the company that rented the ship out, as well as Yakov Ivashov, a senior inspector employed by the River Register’s local office. The River Register is the government agency responsible for upholding safety within the river transport industry.

According to the Miami cruise ship injury attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz, it is often difficult to hold ship owners liable for negligent acts that can pose dangers to both passengers and ship workers. To prevent future accidents from occurring and causing harm to passengers and crew members alike, changes must be made to the river transport and cruise ship industries.

Miami Boating Accident News: Fishing Boat Sinks Off Mexican Coast; At Least 1 Dead, 7 Missing

July 6, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— July 6, 2011 – At least one person is dead and seven remain missing following an unfortunate boating accident that happened in the Sea of Cortez on July 3, 2011. According to information provided by the Los Angeles Times, a fishing boat occupied by 43 people, including 27 American tourists and 16 Mexican crew members, capsized during a violent storm off the coast of Mexico.

Mexican Navy personnel continue to search the waters off Baja California in an attempt to recover seven people who remained missing following the fishing boat accident. Mexican officials told reporters that 35 of the accident victims either swam miles to the shore or were rescued by fishing vessels navigating the area after the boat sank.

A spokesperson for the Mexican Navy contended search and rescue crews were utilizing planes, helicopters, and vessels to probe the area where the sport fishing boat sank. Navy personnel were also apparently searching for survivors from ashore. Thus far, local authorities have recovered the body of one man involved in the boat sinking.
According to David Levine, who was aboard the vessel when severe weather conditions caused it to capsize, “Everybody jumped into the water… a lot of people went in with no life vest.” Nevertheless, Mexican authorities contended the search would continue on the basis that those lost at sea have a higher chance of survival due to warm water and air temperatures. Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard’s San Diego Sector joined search and rescue missions on July 4.

Miami Boat Accident News: Parasailing Death in Tampa Bay Area Spurs Calls for Industry Reform

June 30, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— June 30, 2011 – On June 27, 2011, a South Carolina man became the second man to die in a parasailing accident in the Tampa Bay region in less than 10 months time, The Tampa Tribune reported. While Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesman Gary Morse said the 31-year-old accident victim, who fell from the sky after the boat engine abruptly cut out, appeared to make a relatively soft landing on the water and even waved to signal that he was alive following the plunge, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Peter Martin suggested that witness reports were inconsistent.
Reports indicated David Sieradzki and his wife Stephanie decided to travel from their home in South Carolina to Florida, so they could go parasailing. The company they chose to parasail with, Fun N Sun Parasail, is based on Anna Maria Island’s Bradenton Beach in Manatee County, Florida.

David and Stephanie Sieradzki boarded the Fun N Sun Parasail-operated parasail boat, named “Almost Heaven,” on the afternoon of June 27. There were a total of six boat passengers and two crew members aboard the vessel when its lower propeller allegedly experienced mechanical difficulties, causing the boat to lose speed and simultaneously causing Mr. Sieradzki, who was parasailing solo at the time, to fall approximately 800 feet from the sky.
Mrs. Sieradzki’s father, Bud Hazel apparently talked to reporters via telephone, relaying what his daughter said of the fatal accident. “He got up in the air, and then the boat engine died, and Dave came down… And they had to pull him into the boat. By the time he got into the boat, he was dead. They tried 20 to 30 minutes to revive him, but he was gone,” Hazel contended.
What caused the parasailer to die remains unknown, though autopsy results are pending and investigations into the Florida parasailing accident are ongoing.

The fatal accident spurred parasailing safety advocates such as ex-parasail operator and Parasail Safety Council chairman Mark McCulloh to stress the need for improvements in the parasailing industry. “After all these incidents, I can’t believe we haven’t gotten smarter as an industry… Their argument is, we don’t want the government snooping in our business.”
To protect future parasailers from potentially harmful (or sometimes even deadly) events on the water, towline and equipment inspections should be mandated, just as maximum wind speed and altitude constraints should be implemented, McCulloh told reporters.

According to the non-profit Parasail Safety Council, more than 380 parasailing accidents occurred between 1990 and September of 2009, claiming the lives of 22 accident victims throughout the nation.

Miami Boating Safety News: Coast Guard Cracks Down on Drunk Boaters in Light of July 4th Weekend

June 27, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL— June 27, 2011- In light of the upcoming July 4^th holiday, The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) once again coordinated Operation Dry Water, in which U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officers around the nation spent the weekend of July 24-26, 2011 cracking down on boating under the influence (BUI). According to information provided by the Coast Guard, Operation Dry Water was first launched in 2009 as a means of targeting drunk boaters to in turn cut recreational boating accidents and fatalities.
Coast Guard statistics suggest approximately 17 percent of all recreational boating deaths (about 300 boat accidents and 124 fatalities each year) are attributed to the consumption of alcohol while boating on the water. Furthermore, it is estimated that a boater who has a blood alcohol level above .10 percent is about 10 times as likely to suffer fatal injuries in a boating accident than a boat operator who did not consume any alcohol.

The USCG further noted that there are many factors that can make a drunk boater and his/her passengers even more susceptible to injury or death. First off, alcohol is known to hinder the boater’s “judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time,” while also making the operator more prone to fatigue and vulnerable to the adverse effects of cold water immersion. Secondly, physical stressors known to heighten the affects of alcohol—“sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion”—can also pose dangers for boaters.

In 2010, NASBLA collected reports from 50 states participating in Operation Dry Water and found that 2,708 Coast Guard officers took to nationwide waters to strictly enforce BUI laws. That year, officers contacted 66,472 boaters and made 322 drunk boating arrests. Additionally, officers issued 7,522 safety warnings and 4,171 citations for various other boating violations.
Noting that it is not out of the ordinary for many boaters to consider alcohol and boating mutually inclusive during holidays such as Independence Day weekend,
the Miami boat accident attorneys of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. urged those planning to spend any time in the water to heed caution.

NTSB Accident Report: Cell Phone Use Contributed to Fatal Philly Duck Boat Crash

June 23, 2011 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

MIAMI, FL—June 23, 2011 Nearly one year after a Ride the Ducks tour boat crashed into a barge on the Delaware River off of Philadelphia, resulting in the deaths of two Hungarian tourists, the National Transportation Safety Board began releasing their investigatory findings into the fatal Duck boat crash. According to information provided by NBC Philadelphia, one key NTSB finding was that prior to the boat collision, as the Duck boat was stalled on the river, the mate who was operating the barge was talking on his cell phone.
On July 7, 2010, a Ride the Ducks tour boat stalled in the water off Penn’s Landing approximately 20 minutes before colliding with a barge. A total of 35 passengers and two crew members were thrown into the shipping channel as a result of the boat wreck. Two Hungarian students identified as 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner and 20-year-old Szabolcs Prem were killed in the Philadelphia Duck boat crash.

Upon conducting a full probe into the Philly Duck boat accident, NTSB investigators concluded that not only did the barge’s first mate fail to appoint another crew member to maintain a lookout for any potential dangers in the water below, he was also on his cell phone handling a family emergency at the time.
NTSB investigators also found that although initial reports suggested the Duck boat stalled as a result of an engine fire that broke out, investigations revealed that no fire was sparked prior to the collision.

Whether an individual is operating a car or operating a boat, handheld devices have been linked to countless accidents around the nation. According to Distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving, driver distractions can be considered anything from using a cell phone to changing the radio station or talking to a passenger from behind the wheel.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics suggested about 1 in 5 traffic accidents that occurred during the year 2009 involved distracted driving. Crashes involving distracted drivers resulted in the deaths of 5,474 accident victims and left 448,000 others injured.