NUMBER OF DEATHS ON ILLINOIS WATERS IS UP
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), more people have died on Illinois waters in the past 8 months than were killed in boating accidents in the entire 12 months before. Thirteen people died on Illinois waters from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008, compared with 14 people who have died since October 1, 2008.
IDNR hopes the grim numbers lead fishermen and recreational boaters to exercise caution on the water this summer. IDNR Director Marc Miller reminded boaters that "safety should always be your first priority when it comes to outdoor recreation." Boating safely can be mastered easily thanks to free boat safety classes offered by the IDNR. These courses review boating laws and provide instruction on safe and attentive operation of watercraft.
While Illinois state law requires young boaters aged 12 to 17 to take boating education courses, statistics show that the majority of accidents involve older boaters who are not required to take safety classes. Indeed, 80% of injuries, 61% of fatalities and 72% of watercraft involved in accidents were operated by people between 20 and 59 years of age. Most of the operators in those accidents had over 100 hours of boating experience but little to no classroom safety instruction.
IDNR Chief of Law Enforcement Rafael Gutierrez noted, "Again and again, we see accidents, injuries, and sometimes deaths, that could be avoided." Wearing a personal flotation device could have prevented many of the deaths according to Gutierrez.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, please contact The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll. We are an experienced, hardworking and compassionate team willing to advocate for your best interest.
