A near-miss boating accident in New York earlier this month left a woman wet but unharmed. The victim was paddling a kayak on Lake George in Upstate New York when a motorboat operated by an unidentified individual nearly ran her over. The wooden speedboat was only going about 20 miles per hour (According to eyewitness reports) but the driver appeared not to have noticed the kayaker at all. The woman saw the boat coming and bailed out of her craft into the water to avoid being struck. The motorboat collided with the kayak and crushed one end of it.
The incident could have been much worse. Indeed, similar accidents in New York City have resulted in serious injury, amputation, and even death. Thankfully, the victim in this case was shaken but unhurt. Police deputies responded to 911 calls and arrive on the scene within minutes. The woman was rescued from the water the operator of the motorboat was identified, detained, and questioned by authorities.
According to several reports, all of the kayaks in the group were equipped with the mandatory warning flags. Several members of the group also waived their paddles in the air in an attempt to catch the eye of the motorboat operator. Neither safety precaution worked.
Had the woman been injured, the driver of the boat could be facing a civil action on behalf of the victim for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages for the time out of work and any out of pocket expenses. In addition, the kayak rental agency (which reported the small boat a total loss) could bring a claim for the damage done to the boat.
If you’ve been injured by the recklessness, carelessness, or total neglect of a powerboat operator anywhere in New York while recreating on the waterways, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact an expert boating accident lawyer in New York City without any further delay. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today for a free consultation.