Maryland Accident Law Blog
In Anne Arundel County, the body of an Arlington man was pulled from the Severn River on Sunday night. Daniel Pemsler, 24, was killed in a boating accident this weekend. Maryland Natural Resources say that Permsler had just let go of a tube he had been riding and was waiting in the water to get picked up by a boat when he was hit and killed by another boat.
Some Safety Tips To Consider When Swimming In A Natural Body Of Water:
– Never swim alone.
– Be aware of broken bottles and trash that may be floating around.
– Always wear a life jacket (helps you stay afloat and makes you more visible to nearby vessels).
– Don’t swim out too far.
– Never pretend to drown.
– Don’t swim too close to piers.
– Leave alcohol-use behind.
Some Statistics About Boating-Related Accidents (provided by the CDC):
– In 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard received reports of 4,904 boating incidents; 3,363 participants were reported injured and 676 dead in boating incidents.
– The number of drownings attributed to boating mishaps declined from 82% in 1990 to 70% (484 out of 676) in 2004. The remaining boating fatalities were due to trauma, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other causes.
– It is estimated that 431 lives could have been saved in 2004 if all boaters had worn life jackets.
– Alcohol involvement was a contributing factor in about one-third of all reported boating deaths.
– Open motorboats (boats of open construction that are specifically built for operating with a motor, including boats canopied or fitted with temporary partial shelters) were involved in 42% of all reported incidents and personal watercraft were involved in another 25%.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a boating-related accident, a personal injury lawyer can tell you whether you are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. Contact the personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen for more information.
Arlington Man Killed In Boating Accident, WTOP.com, July 24, 2006
Swimming, Kidshealth.org
National Boating Safety, National Center For Injury Prevention and Control
Related Web Resources:
Safety Tips, National Water Safety Program
Maryland Department Of Natural Resources