The Lake of the Ozarks may be unique to those who live or vacation here and have come to love the beauty and recreational offerings of the area. However, aside from the memories that you make here, the Lake of the Ozarks shares many things with other similarly sized bodies of water in the United States. Some of those commonalities are the types of boats used on the Lake and the types of boats involved in serious accidents.
Common Reasons for US and Lake of the Ozarks Boating Accidents
According to the United States Coast Guard, the five most common types of vessels involved in recreational boating accidents in the United States during 2012 included:
- Open motorboats. In open motorboat accidents during 2012, 286 people died, with 211 of those people dying from drowning. An additional 1,556 people were hurt.
- Personal watercrafts. Fifty-eight people died in personal watercraft accidents during 2012, with 23 of those people dying from drowning. An additional 721 people were hurt.
- Cabin motorboats. Fifty-five people died in cabin motorboat accidents during 2012, with 35 of those people dying from drowning. An additional 269 people were hurt.
- Canoes or kayaks. In canoe or kayak accidents during 2012, 102 people died, with 83 of those people dying from drowning. An additional 134 people were hurt.
- Pontoons. Forty-four people died in pontoon accidents during 2012, with 30 of those people dying from drowning. An additional 114 people were hurt.
Of course, these only represent the most common types of vessels involved in recreational boating accidents in the United States. You could also be hurt, or lose loved one, on another type of boat.
Contact a Lake of the Ozarks Boat Accident Lawyer if You’ve Been Hurt
If you have been injured in a recreational boating accident on the Lake of the Ozarks, or if you are mourning the loss of a loved one who was killed in such an accident, then we encourage you to find out more about your legal rights and possible recovery. Our Lake of the Ozarks boat accident attorney would be pleased to answer your questions during an initial consultation. Please call us today at (573) 240-8866 to schedule a meeting, and please read our FREE book, The Lies Smart People Believe About Missouri Insurance Claims, to learn more.