LAKE MINNETONKA AND ST CROIX BOAT ACCIDENTS MOST FREQUENT – MN ATTORNEY
As Minnesota heads into one of the busiest boating days of the year, there’s an important number to keep in mind: 92. That’s how many non-fatal boating accidents there were last year – the highest number since 2007.Many people were injured because of these boat accident cases.
5 Eyewitness News analyzed data from the MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard to see the most common types of accidents on Minnesota lakes, and what’s causing them. That data breaks down boating incidents from 2005 to 2015.
Topping off the list, by a long shot: Lake Minnetonka. Lake Minnetonka had the highest number of boat accidents during that time period. “It can be very congested. It can be like rush hour traffic in Minneapolis, but out on the lake,” said Lt. Kent Vnuck with the Hennepin County Water Patrol Unit. According to the state’s data, there were 76 boat accident injury cases on Lake Minnetonka and five deaths.
The most common accident on Lake Minnetonka were collisions between two boats or a boat and another object – such as a dock. There were 63 in total. Additionally, on Lake Minnetonka, excessive speed was listed most often as the cause of a boat crash or injury accident.
OVERCROWDED LAKES WITH ROWDY BOATERS
“There are thousands of boaters out here. There are a lot of boats out there with drivers not paying attention. Unfortunately, you have to be looking around all the time,” Vnuck said.
Other bodies of water examined include the St. Croix River. During the same time period, there were 52 boating incidents on the St. Croix, leading to 18 injuries and one death. 27 of the incidents were the result of collisions. “Drive slower than you normally do,” Vnuck recommends. “Be more aware of where you’re driving, be looking 360 degrees, just be courteous of other boaters. Know the boating laws and who has the right of way.” Our boat accident lawyers know there is a lot of drinking by boat drivers and passengers on the St. Croix, with serious accidents and injuries every year.
Other popular lakes analyzed include Lake Mille Lacs, where four people have died in the last decade and 11 injured.
Prior Lake had eight deaths, with excessive speed being a common cause.
Up in Gull Lake, there were eight collisions between 2005 and 2015. That lake experienced seven injuries and one death.
LAWYER FOR BOAT ACCIDENT INJURY IN MINNESOTA
If you are injured in a boating accident in Minnesota on the St. Croix River or Lake Minnetonka or any other lake or river in MN, please call us as soon as possible and speak with an attorney for a free consultation. Many times, conducting an early investigation and getting witness statements can be crucial to your case. Hopefully the DNR will do a proper investigation and at least get the names of witnesses, but you can never be sure. If possible, you should take many photographs and get the names and contact information for all witnesses.
The Rochlin Law Firm, Ltd. has successfully represented many people injured in boat crashes and other watercraft related cases. Pam Rochlin and David Rochlin are personal injury attorneys with more than 25 years’ experience successfully handling hundreds of accident cases.
EXPERIENCED, EFFECTIVE INJURY LAWYERS
Our primary focus is to make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to if you have been injured on a boat. Pam is a former partner at Meshbesher & Spence, providing small firm attention to her clients. Our lawyers can meet you to discuss your boat accident at our offices in Edina, Woodbury, and Minneapolis. A top boat accident lawyer will also meet people at their homes to discuss injury cases in St. Paul, Rogers, Elk River, Maple Grove, Brainerd, Rogers, St. Cloud, Chanhassen, Chaska, and other cities throughout Minnesota.
Call us for a free consultation if you would like to discuss the specific facts of your boat accident injury case. Our best lawyers are very willing to answer your MN boat accident questions. Plus, we never charge anything unless you receive compensation for your injuries. We also represent people injured in snowmobile accidents, ATV accidents, tubing accidents, etc.