Boating Injuries Scarce over July Fourth Holiday

Steve Lombardi

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335

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The ten day holiday period around the 4th of July this year was a popular time at lake areas in Iowa, causing water patrol officials to be more aware of possible boating accidents. The increased number of officials patrolling the lakes seems to have helped since the majority of boaters were cautious and responsible while on the lakes.

Water patrol officers held boating-while-intoxicated checks on one day over the holiday week. Of the 57 boats stopped by the officers on that day, only one person was arrested and charged with a BWI. In addition, there were no boat crashes over the holiday and only three personal injury incidents. There was unfortunately one drowning, in which the victim fell out of a boat being driven by one of the people arrested for intoxicated boating.

Since a fatal 2005 boating accident, the number of water officials has increased in lake areas and boaters seem to be using extra caution as well.

An attempt to pass a bill to lower the boating-while- intoxicated blood-alcohol limit to .08 from .10 did not pass the Iowa Legislature.

In 2005, U.S. Coast Guard Statistics showed that Iowa was the safest state in a 22-state region for boating.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides public information on how to be safe and responsible while boating.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.