Falling overboard or watching someone else fall can be a terrifying experience with life-threatening consequences for the person falling into the water. A person can suffer permanent brain damage, hypothermia, respiratory problems, other serious injuries, or death. Many of these accidents are caused by preventable reasons, such as a boat operator speeding, driving when intoxicated, or making fast turns. Waves and other weather conditions can also play a factor in a person falling overboard. If you or a loved one was injured when falling overboard in a boating accident caused by the operator’s or another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the negligent party.
Hypothermia, a condition where your body’s core temperature drops to dangerous levels, is a common threat, especially in the often-cold waters off of the Washington coast. It can be caused by falling overboard into cold water, exposure to cold air and wind when wearing damp or wet clothes, or prolonged exposure to cold weather or water. Hypothermia’s symptoms start with shivering, teeth chattering, numbness, and mental confusion. Moderate hypothermia symptoms include trouble with muscle movement, a warm sensation, trouble seeing, and fatigue. Severe hypothermia can lead to low blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
A person suffering from hypothermia requires immediate medical care. The goal of treatment is to bring the body’s temperature back to normal. Treatments for hypothermia can involve passive rewarming, such as covering the person with a warm blanket and giving him warm drinks. More serious cases of hypothermia could require blood or airway rewarming or the intravenous injection of warm saline solutions.
Because falling overboard is often preventable, you can take steps to reduce your risk of falling off a boat. Take these safety precautions:
If you or a passenger falls off a boat, immediate steps should be taken by those in the boat to rescue the victim. This is the proper way to rescue someone who has fallen overboard:
If you suffered injuries due to falling off a boat, you need to hold the negligent boat operator or other negligent party accountable for compensating you. You will need the assistance of a boat accident attorney to do this. Call our office today to schedule your free consultations to learn about your legal options.
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Bellevue Office
11900 NE 1st Street
Suite 300
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: (425) 289-1990
Fax: (425) 289-1991
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Bellevue Office
11900 NE 1st Street
Suite 300
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: (425) 289-1990
Fax: (425) 289-1991