Anytime a death occurs or a boater/passenger is injured an injury into legal causation should be undertaken promptly especially after a boating death. Since 1990 we have seen a statewide low of 7 boater deaths and it rose to 25 in 1993.

This year (2008) we have seen only 13 boater deaths which is about average. Boating injuries especially with the popular rafting sport can include facial lacerations and severe facial trauma such as orbital blowouts.

With as many rafting rivers as Oregon has boater deaths will occur in the future and my best advise is to have a lawyer exam the facts of the occurrence and evaluate the law even if a waiver was signed by the person who went rafting and boating.

With summer warm weather just around the corner rivers and lakes will see a lot more boaters. With more boats on the water, the likelihood of boating accidents and boating injuries will go up. In the spring in Oregon all waterways are very cold. Most Oregon water is very cold year round. Only recently on the Oregon coast three lives were lost that could have been saved if the boaters ad worn life vests.

A person injured as a result of a boating negligence can recover money for medical bills and pain and suffering. Boating fatalities often occur because of cold water which chills 25 times faster than cold air. This is the reason a person feels numb within a few seconds of falling in the water. Its tragic that when swimming in cold water short term swim failure can occur anywhere from 3-30 minutes and can lead to drowning.

The three leading causes of boating fatalities are capsizing, falls overboard, and collisions. In any boating injury and property damage case it is important to present solid evidence of boating expert testimony. With any boating accident given the high degree of loss its important to consult legal counsel soon after the boating injury.