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Boat and Watercraft Accidents
- Seattle Woman Killed By Crane On Construction Barge
- Boat Capsizes In Puget Sound, Four Boaters Rescued With Hypothermia
- One Dies In Lake Padden In Bellingham After Canoe Capsizes
- Drinking Kayakers Capsize In Puget Sound, One Suffers Hypothermia
- Body Washes Onto Beach Grays Harbor County From Boat Accident
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News
- Washington Man Drowns In Sammamish State Park Lake...
Posted on 7/6/2010 - Early Summer Is a Dangerous Time On Washington’s Rivers And Lakes...
Posted on 6/19/2010 - Three Drown In Columbia River Boat Accident Due To Wind...
Posted on 5/13/2010 - Washington Boat Builder May Be Responsible For Snohomish County Boat Accident...
Posted on 8/25/2009 - Woman Boater Drowns In Lake Stevens Boating Accident...
Posted on 7/16/2009
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Boat and Watercraft Accidents
Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC | Washington Legal Blog
At the Andrew Kim Law Firm, we see our legal blog as a chance to communicate regularly and stay connected with our readers and clients. Our short blog posts will share Washington State legal tips, Washington State legal information, Washington State current events and legal news, and updates on recent Washington State legal cases.Boat and Watercraft Accidents
Seattle Woman Killed By Crane On Construction Barge
A Seatac woman was killed by a head injury in a crane accident in Elliott Bay while on a barge just off the dock. Washington State Police are not sure what the woman was doing on the barge or why the boat accident took place.Boat Capsizes In Puget Sound, Four Boaters Rescued With Hypothermia
Four Washington residents were treated for mild hypothermia after their motorboat capsized in Puget Sound near Redondo Beach this week.One Dies In Lake Padden In Bellingham After Canoe Capsizes
One Washington man died and another suffered from exposure when their canoe capsized on Lake Padden in Bellingham. The fatal Washington State boat accident is under investigation.Drinking Kayakers Capsize In Puget Sound, One Suffers Hypothermia
Two men were rescued by the Coast Guard after drinking and boating in Puget Sound on Thursday night. Both ben capsized in their kayaks in rough water and called for help. One man suffered from hypothermia following the Washington boat accident.Body Washes Onto Beach Grays Harbor County From Boat Accident
Washington State authorities believe that the body of a woman who washed up on a Grays Harbor Beach had been involved in a sailboat accident that occurred off of the coast of WA. The body has been identified as 47-year-old Teri Dascher of Kingston, Washington, who departed on a 25-foot sailboat from King County a few weeks before.The body of the other person on the boat, 51-year-old John Phillip Stapp of Seattle, WA, has not been recovered. A large amount of debris, apparently from the wreckage of the sailboat, has also washed onto shore. Police are unsure of what could have caused the sailboat accident.
The couple was headed to the South Pacific, though they had stopped in Westport for boat repairs over the past few weeks. The Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate this boating accident case.
Kittitas County Woman Loses Leg In Water-Skiing Boat Accident
As we reported in our News Section last month, a Kittitas woman was severely injured in a boating accident on the Columbia River on July 4. New updates report that 20-year-old Alison McWeeny is still in the hospital recovering from a lower leg amputation in the weeks following her water-skiing boat accident. The Central Washington University student and track and field athlete remains at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in satisfactory condition.The boating accident took place when a motorboat turned too sharply, capsizing and ejecting all seven passengers into the water. McWeeny was thrown under the boat, where she suffered extensive lower leg trauma from the boat's propellers on both legs, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office. She has undergone three surgeries so far to repair damage caused in the Washington State boating accident.
Man Dies In Lake Washington Boating Accident
With warmer weather ascending on Washington State, the incidence of boating accidents, boating injuries, and boating deaths are on the rise. On Thursday, June 5, 56-year-old August Reyers of Kirkland, Washington died in a boating accident in Lake Washington.Reyers and a friend were boating in rough waters late on Thursday when the boat capsized north of the Highway 520 floating bridge. The King County Sheriff's Department reported that although the friend swam to shore after an hour and a half in the water, his friend was no where to be found. On Friday, the body was located about seven yards off of Juanita Beach Park. The King County Medical Examiner's Office identified the body.
To prevent boating accidents this summer, be aware of the weather conditions, wear a life vest, and do not drink while operating a boat.
Lake Coeur d’Alene boat accident injures man from Denver | Washington boat accident attorney
Nicholas McMordie, 25, from Denver, Colorado was injured in a boat accident on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Washington when he fell overboard from the back of the boat that his friend Benjamin Stein, 25, of Spokane was driving at the time. His right lower leg was severely lacerated from the propeller blades.
EMTs from the Coeur d’Alene City Fire Department responded to the Third Street Public Boat Launch and took McMordie to Kootenai Medical Center to be treated for his injuries. According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, it appears that alcohol was not a factor in the accident, and no citations were issued.
The Andrew Kim Law Firm represents persons injured from a boat accident involving motor boats, PWC, sailboats, canoes, and kayaks. You can speak with an attorney for free at 1-800-636-3676 to see if you have a case or not.
National Boat Safety Week Theme: Life jacket Safety
The 2009 National Boat Safety Week kicks off on May 16 - around the time that most families hit the water for the first time this season. Boat Safety Week strives to raise awareness about the 600 boat accident fatalities each year and to urge everyone to "Wear It!" - their life jacket.The National Safe Boating Council reminds boaters that 90% of people who drown during boating accidents are not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, and that two out of three people who die in boat accidents drown.
Boat safety advocates also reminded boaters that life jackets now come in lightweight, compact, and attractive styles, making them more comfortable and cool to wear even during the summer months.
During Boat Safety Week, the council will also run an essay contest in which writers can share their life jacket stories. The winner of the contest will receive a $1,000 shopping spree.
Boat explosion injures 11 people | Bellevue boat accident lawyer
What started out as a nice boating trip for an extended family of 14 people who left from Apollo Beach, Florida on a 33 foot Sea Ray to anchor in three feet of water off Pine Key Island (also know as Beer Can Island) ended in an explosion in the rear portion of the boat.
Eleven people on board were injured, including the six who were seriously injured and flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital. Five other children were treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital. Three others were wading near the boat at the time of the explosion and were apparently not injured.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The boat's twin engines were not operating at the time, although a gasoline generator was. The boat burned to the water line and was owned by George Meyer, who was on the boat.
The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents those injured as a result of negligent maintenance and operation of a boat or water vessel. Call us at 1-800-636-3676 for a free initial consultation.
Boat crash kills 5 in Florida | Washington boat accident attorney
A 22 foot power boat with 14 people on board crashed into a docked tug boat on the Intracoastal Waterway on April 12, 2009 at about 7 pm about 25 miles southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. Five people were killed and nine were injured. The boat accident was serious enough to be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. Investigators are looking at several factors including speed, capacity of the boat, lighting and whether people were drinking.
Six victims were treated at Shands Jacksonville Hospital, two were in critical condition, one was in serious and three in fair condition. The report did not mention where the other three injured were being treated.
The five killed all died at the scene and were aboard the power boat. They were Jacqueline R. Allen, 44, of Jacksonville, Florida; Robert Trenton Craig, 23, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida; Elizabeth L. Rosenfeld, 20, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Inmaculada Pierce, 42, of Orange Park, Florida; and Olivia Rose Carretero, 23, of South Lake Tahoe, California.
The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represent persons seriously injured or killed in boating accidents including motorboat crash, powerboat, sailboat, kayak, jet ski, and windsurfer collisions. Call a Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington boat accident attorney at 1-800-636-3676 for a free initial consultation.
Our clients are from Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Puget Sound, Beaver Lake, Pine Lake, Lake Chelan, Columbia River, Nisqually River, Moses Lake, Lake Wenatchee, Lake Tapps, American Lake, and Lake Roosevelt.
Boater who hit kayaker on American Lake found | Lakewood personal injury attorney
Lakewood police have found the boater who hit a 14 year old kayaker on American Lake in a boating accident, leaving the boy critically injured. After interviewing the boater, police said today the collision was not "intentional, negligent or reckless".14-year-old, David Kenny "DK" Ross, suffered severe head injuries. His father also said doctors had to remove his ruptured spleen. He's was in critical condition at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma.
It's hard to imagine how the boat driver could not be at least negligent or even reckless. The operator of a motor boat has a duty to:
legally mandated speed requirements that there may be, such as a slow/no wake zone.
other vessels, boating under the influence, or operating at an unsafe speed for the given conditions.
See the Rules of the Road as they apply to boats and other vessels here.
The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents those seriously injured in boating accidents involving motorboats, sailboats, PWC, jet skis, Seadoos, and kayaks. You can contact us at (425) 289-1990 in the Seattle / Bellevue area or at
(253) 682-2000 in the Tacoma / Lakewood area.
Boating Accident Prevention Tip: Life Jacket Information
This month, we covered the story of a man sentenced to six years in jail after a drunken boat accident lead to the deaths of three people on the Nisqually River. Although operating a boat while under the influence is illegal and extremely dangerous, we also wanted our readers to note that no one on the vessel at the time it capsized was wearing a lifejacket - a simple precaution that could have changed the outcome of this tragedy.In Washington State, it's a law for all children under the age of 12 to wear a life jacket while in a boat over 19 feet long. In the case of this recent accident, both the 9-year-old and 5-year-old boys involved would have had on life vests had their adults been following the laws.
It is also important for our readers to know that not all lifejackets are created equal - be sure that yours is well-fitting, and tightly secured. Different water activities involve different types of lifejackets - also be sure to pick the correct safety vest for what you are doing, whether it is fishing or water skiiing.
Finally, understand that lifejackets are important even for those of us who can swim. Although you may be able to swim in ideal conditions, you may need your life jacket to keep you afloat if you are in rough waters, injured, unconscious, confused, or fatigued.
Crab fisherman pulled overboard in Bering Sea | Seattle boat accident attorney
A 40-year-old crab fisherman was reported missing on January 6, 2009 in the Bering Sea after his foot became tangled in a pot line and he was pulled overboard. He was working on board the Kodiak-based Seabrooke which was fishing for snow crab about 22 miles northwest of Cold Bay, Alaska.
This is worst nightmare for any fisherman working in the frigid waters off the coast of Alaska and is a sad reminder of how deadly this job can be. As seen on the television show "The World's Deadliest Catch", mishaps like this can occur at any moment and in the blink of the eye when you aren't paying attention.
Nisqually River drunk boater sentenced in deaths of three people | Thurston County boat accident attorney
A Thurston County judge sentenced Vincent Farler to six years and three months in prison for operating a boat while under the influence (BUI) of alcohol June 12, 2008 causing the deaths of three people when it capsized on the Nisqually River. His blood alcohol content was 0.19 which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Cameron McCartney, 9; his younger brother Sean McCartney, 5; and Bryan L. Pierce, 32, all drowned after Farler's boat capsized after running into a logjam. Farler and the McCartney boys' mother, Erin McCartney, were able to make it safely to shore.
An interesting bit of information revealed that Farler admitted he had been drinking at the Cedar Inn Tavern with his father before the boating accident, court papers state. This may impose liability against the tavern for serving Farler if it can be proven that he was obviously intoxicated at the tavern and they still served him drinks.
In cases of wrongful death, your attorney should discover whatever coverages are available including boat liability coverage, insurance from the tavern, and any excess or umbrella policies that may also provide additional layers of coverage. If you have any questions about a boat accident or injury claim, you can contact us at the Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC and call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 for a consultation.
Port Orchard Yacht Club marina fire destroys boat | Tacoma boat accident attorney
An early morning fire on December 26, 2008, destroyed a 46-foot Chris-Craft boat at the Port Orchard Yacht Club. No other vessels were damaged due the efforts of about 30 firefighters who responded to the scene. No one was living on board the boat and so no one was injured.
Unfortunately, fires on boats may be caused by the negligence of the boat owners for failing to properly maintain the electrical equipment on their boats, or failure to safely operate the vessel by not storing flammable liquids properly, or not ventilating gas and other combustibles before operating the engine.
If you have any questions regarding claims for damages related to a boating accident, contact the Seattle, Tacoma, Washington boat injury attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC.
Katmai fishing boat accident and crew member deaths | Seattle, Washington boat accident attorney
The 93 foot cod fishing vessel Katmai owned by Katmai Fisheries, Inc. sank in October, killing seven of 11 crew members. The bodies recovered included Joshua Leonguerrero of Spanaway, Washington, Cedric Smith and Glenn Harper, both of Portland, Oregon, Jake Gilman of Camas, Washington in Clark County, and Fuli Lemusu of Salem, Oregon. Two others Carlos Zabala of Helena, Montana, and Robert Davis of Deming, Washington in Whatcom County remain lost at sea.
The four survivors are skipper Henry Blake of Worcester, Massachusetts, Guy Schroder and Harold Appling, both of Anchorage, Alaska and Adam Foster of Shoreline, Washington.
The Katmai sank as the skipper tried to push through a dangerous island passage in a huge storm that had prompted other boats to seek safety on the lee side of islands. Former crewman, Isaac Vigil, said that a weak area of the fishing boat was improperly repaired by trying to weld aluminum to steel, and that a crack below that patch leaked water into the fish factory. Investigators also are trying to find out why one of the vessel's life rafts might not have inflated however, a carbon-dioxide cartridge was missing that is vital to inflation.
Survivors and the families of those who died have filed claims under maritime law, but it is unclear whether $5 million in insurance money will be made available to help settle the claims due to some coverage issues. The insurance companies may deny coverage if they can find evidence of false or inaccurate representations made by Katmai Fisheries Inc. about the vessel and whether all operating restrictions were followed. Some settlements have been reached with the owners of Katmai from private funds.
The Seattle, Washington boat accident and wrongful death attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents those seriously injured or killed at sea as a result of the negligence of the boat owners. For a free initial consultation, please call us at 1-800-636-3676.
See related article here.
Minor injuries reported in jet boat accident on Snake River, Clarkston, Lewiston
CLARKSTON - A tour boat's excursion from a Snake River Adventures on September 22, 2008 was cut short when it reportedly hit a rock on the Snake River. Medics and police responded to a dock behind the Quality Inn after a report of injured passengers.The boat went through a spot he thought was too narrow, then the boat hit some rocks in the river. At least one person was taken to the hospital by Lewiston ambulance.
Washington boat accident attorney, Nisqually River boat accident
A Washington boat accident attorney at the Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC can provide helpful information to people injured from a boat crash or who have a wrongful death claim from a boat accident.The case of an Olympia man who pleaded guilty to three counts of homicide by watercraft in a boating accident on the Nisqually River last June is an example of the type of boating accident case we handle.
Please see here for more.
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Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: (425) 289-1990
Fax: (425) 289-1991
Toll Free: (800) 636-3676
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4301 South Pine Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
Phone: (253) 682-2000
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Bellevue
10655 NE 4th Street
Suite 208
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: (425) 289-1990
Fax: (425) 289-1991
Toll Free: (800) 636-3676
Tacoma
4301 South Pine Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
Phone: (253) 682-2000
Toll Free: (800) 636-3676
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