As the weather gets warmer, Chicago residents enjoy spending summer afternoons out on the water. While boating is often a fun and relaxing activity, it can also be dangerous at times.
Many people consider drinking a normal part of boating culture. However, not only is boating while intoxicated illegal in Illinois, but it can lead to serious accidents. Boat operators are responsible for taking reasonable care to avoid collisions and keep their passengers safe.
A new report counts Illinois among the states with the most drunk boating accidents. The report analyzed data from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division and the Bureau of Transportation, with maps organized by the website BoatSafe.com. The maps examined the number of boating accidents in the United States, specifically those related to alcohol.
Illinois was ranked ninth among the top 10 states with the highest number of alcohol-related boat accidents. The state had 9.36 drunk boating accidents per 100,000 registered vessels.
Boating accidents can cause life-threatening, even permanent, injuries. An intoxicated boat driver puts everyone at risk. When a boating accident occurs due to a boat operator’s negligence, it may be possible to recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit.
If you were injured in a boating accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other costs. Because boating accident claims can be complicated, it is important to have experienced legal representation in your corner.
Contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg to learn more about how we can help you. Our legal team handles many different types of boating accident cases. We offer free initial consultations.