There are plenty of opportunities to hit the waterways in and around New York City during the summer months. But boating can be hazardous. People can be injured in boating accidents in New York City without even getting wet.
Every year safety officials urge boaters to prepare themselves and their craft before untying from the pier. Two important aspects of that preparation are understanding how to safely use your watercraft and being aware of hidden dangers lurking just above or below the waterline.
Bridges, dams, and power lines spanning rivers can all cause deadly boating accidents in New York City if you’re not careful. Earlier this month, 16-year old Avery Gardener was killed in a boating accident in New York after she stood up in a power boat while passing under a pedestrian bridge. She struck her head on an abutment and never regained consciousness.
Boat operators must avoid submerged dangers-a lesson 28-year old Gregory Soros (son of George Soros the billionaire hedge fund manager) learned the hard way. He was injured over the Fourth of July weekend when the motor yacht on which he was riding struck a sandbar in the Hamptons. When the boat stopped abruptly, Soros was thrown to the deck, suffering head, rib, and arm injuries. The captain, 34-year old Gregory Nissen, may be liable for Soros’s injuries, if he is found to have operated the boat negligently.
Boaters must always be aware of the danger their vehicle presents to others. Collisions with swimmers, tubers, divers, and smaller craft can quickly turn tragic. Just last year a 16-year old girl was killed and another injured in a tubing accident on Long Island Sound. The teens fell off the tube they were riding and came in contact with a tow boat’s propeller.
If you or a family member has been injured in a boat outing, contact a New York City boating accident attorney to discuss the legal options available to you. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.