New York Harbor is the third busiest in ferry traffic in the entire world. In early 2013, a Seastreak ferry on its way to the East River Pier in lower Manhattan crashed. Dozens of the more than 300 commuters were injured. The catamaran vessel evidently did not slow down to a proper speed on its approach to Pier 11 at Wall Street, and thus rammed into a floating dock.
Seventy-three passengers and one crew member were taken to hospitals in the area. Nearly 65,000 commuters use ferries such as the one that crashed to get into lower Manhattan. Fortunately, New York Harbor is also one of the safest in the world.
Boating Crashes in New York’s Waterways
Boating accidents can cause serious injuries – and most of them are preventable. Yet with much of New York City is surrounded by waterways, there are many types of vessels on the waterways, including barges, cruise ships, and ferries, as well as jet skis, powerboats, pleasure yachts, and other vessels across the rivers of New York.
Recklessness is the primary reason for boating accidents and serious injury. People are generally on the waters for pleasure, and they do not appreciate the dangers of boating. In some instances, people who are captaining boats are not following normal safety rules. For example, they may be drinking and driving. The majority of boating crashes are alcohol-related.
Sometimes, a vessel operator may be operating a boat in the dark, so they cannot actually see what’s in front of them or to either side, a recipe for disaster. Other times, they may not be adequately trained to actually steer a boat or ride on a jet ski. Falling under the motor of a jet ski can result in serious injuries.
Two-Thirds of Boating Deaths by Drowning
Another reason that boating injuries can be serious is because boaters do not have seatbelts, so they can be easily thrown from a boat if there is a crash. Without a flotation device or other protection, they can be rendered unconscious and drown. Drowning causes about two-thirds of boating deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, whether it be a ferry crash or a jet ski accident, it is important to investigate the cause of the crash as quickly as possible, before evidence can disappear. It may be necessary to track down witnesses, work with boating accident experts and accident reconstructionists to determine exactly what did happen to cause the boating accident.
Were You or a Loved One Injured in a Boating Accident? NYC Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries from an accident caused in a boating crash that was not your fault, speak with a personal injury attorney experienced in protecting the rights of boat accident victims.
The personal injury attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP can answer your questions and help you navigate a personal injury claim. With offices throughout the New York City metro area and Long Island, we have been helping accident victims for more than 60 years. To schedule an initial, private meeting, call 888-519-6400, or 718-539-3100 in Brooklyn and the Bronx, or 516-248-2234 in Nassau County and Garden City.
