A boat accident on Lake Austin last month caused two injuries and one death. On January 23, police were called to the scene of the accident after receiving reports that two boats were involved in a head-on collision. First responders were able to locate two men involved in the accident, but a third was missing.
One of the men involved in the accident was flown to Dell Seton Medical Center, where doctors amputated an arm and leg. A second man was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Investigators were told by witnesses that a third man was spotted making it to shore. However, a search team was unable to confirm those reports in the hours after the crash. Almost three days after the crash, police used a sonar device to locate the third man’s body.
According to the Austin Police Department’s dive team, one of the boats may have been travelling on the wrong side of a buoy when the crash occurred.
Common Causes of Fatal Boat Accidents in Austin
There are boat accidents on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake or Lake Travis each year. In some cases, these accidents cause fatalities. Causes of fatal boat accidents may include but are not limited to:
- Alcohol use: The US Coast Guard estimates that 17 percent of fatal boating accidents are caused by alcohol impairment. Some fatal boat accidents in Austin are caused by boat operators who are under the influence.
- Operator error: Certain types of operator mistakes can cause fatal boat accidents. For example, boaters may accidently run into the shoreline or other boats.
- Speeding or other unsafe maneuvers: Some fatal boat accidents are caused by unsafe maneuvers, such as operating a boat in the wake of another boat. This type of maneuver may force a collision.
Even when you take every precaution while boating in Austin, the mistakes of other boat operators could lead to injuries or death. If you have questions about your legal options after a fatal boat accident in Austin, then you could call the Law Offices of Aaron Allison. Austin boat accident attorney Aaron Allison could help you determine whether it would be possible to a personal injury claim.
