A boating accident in New York late last month has led to criminal charges being filed against the machine’s operator. Late last month a 21-foot motorboat being operated by a 28-year-old man crashed into a crowded marina in Bay Shore, Long Island. Police say that the driver was operating the boat at such a high rate of speed that the impact actually launched the entire vehicle completely out of the water and it landed up on shore. The operator was ejected by the impact and was tossed onto a protective bulkhead at the water’s edge.
The operator was alone in the boat and was not seriously injured by the crash. Thankfully, the area in which the boat landed was also unoccupied. Had the vehicle been even a few feet in either direction, however, it could have struck pedestrians at the water’s edge or done severe property damage to the surrounding structures.
When EMT’s arrived at the scene of this shocking boating accident in Long Island, they immediately suspected that the operator may have been under the influence at the time of the crash. Police officers were called in to assess the man and concluded that he was highly intoxicated and should not have been behind the controls of the machine.
He was charged while operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
When innocent victims are injured in boating accidents in New York City, the operator and owner of the watercraft may be held responsible for the victims’ injuries, lost time form work and unpaid medical expenses regardless of whether or not criminal charges were filed. While proving liability against intoxicated boaters may be easier, any boater who is careless or reckless can be held financially responsible for their actions.
If you’ve been injured in a boat crash whether as a passenger or a passerby, you need experienced legal assistance to get the compensation you deserve. Contact an expert boating accident attorney in New York City today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.