New Hope for Milwaukee Recreational Vehicle Accidents

Police hope new boat will reduce accidents

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

Now that summer is in full swing, Wisconsin natives have started flocking to area rivers and lakes. The added influx of traffic to the waterways naturally increases the odds that some of these outdoor enthusiasts might engage in some unsafe or even illegal activities.

To combat those problems, the police department of the town of Beloit, Wisconsin, is now deploying a police boat in order to keep an eye on the water. The Beloit Police Department recently received a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which enabled the agency to purchase a 2014 Lund 1800 Alaskan dual console boat. An officer with the police department says that now they have a way to patrol the seven-mile section of the Rock River that flows through the township’s jurisdiction.

The officer says that prior to the boat’s arrival the Rock County Sheriff’s Department would assist the police department with people calling in complaints regarding unsafe boating incidents and theft from private docks. The officer says that the new watercraft will help the Beloit Police Department take care of those costs on their own in addition to an increased capability. The officer pointed to an example earlier this month where the new police boat was able to respond to an incident involving a flipped canoe. Officers aboard the new vessel were able to rescue several victims before the canoe eventually sank.

The police boat is equipped with a host of emergency and medical supplies purchased through a $1, 500 grant from Alliant Energy. These items include medical bags, a rope designed for rescue use, emergency inflatable floatation devices and other items. Since the boat arrived in May, officers say they have logged over 70 hours in the boat, have conducted 30 safety inspections and issued 13 citations.

People injured as a result of a preventable Milwaukee recreational vehicle accidents may be entitled to recover their medical costs or lost wages. A civil lawsuit against an impaired or distracted operator of a boat, Jet Ski or other watercraft may help a victim to return to the quality of life they had enjoyed prior to the accident.

Source: The Beloit Daily News, “The law takes a boat ride” Phil Johnson, Jul. 15, 2014

Do you need legal advice from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney following an accident? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free consultation.

Milwaukee Mourns for Seattle Family

Alcohol blamed for fatal recreational vehicle accident on lake

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Friday, July 25, 2014.

An area real-estate agent is facing serious charges after a boating accident that left a 33-year-old woman dead. The recreational vehicle accident occurred on July 16, when a speedboat collided with the sailboat on which she was riding. The operator of the faster boat has been taken into custody; alcohol is thought to have been a factor in the crash.

The defendant, age 46, was arrested during the early morning hours on July 17. He has not yet been identified because a probable-cause hearing has not been held. However, investigators say that they believe alcohol contributed to the collision, as the man was behaving in a manner consistent with intoxication.

The decedent in this case died after she was thrown into the water when that man apparently struck the sailboat. Two other people were also flung into Lake Washington during the collision; one man in his 40s remains hospitalized in serious condition. The other injury victim, a woman in her 30s, has been treated and released.

Reports show that the woman was a schoolteacher in the Seattle area. Originally from Wisconsin, she was an avid traveler who spent time living in Australia and finally landed in Seattle. The woman had been a veterinary technician before transitioning into a position teaching science at a local private middle school.

Family members should never have to suffer the death of a loved one in a boat accident caused by alcohol consumption. Boat operators have the same imperative to maintain their sobriety as those who get behind the wheel of a car. Boaters who operate their vehicle while intoxicated may be penalized with criminal consequences, but they may also be targeted by civil suits from surviving relatives seeking financial compensation for the accident.

Source: The Seattle Times, “Seattle teacher killed in Lake Washington boat collision” Jennifer Sullivan, Jul. 17, 2014

Do you need legal advice from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney following a recreational vehicle accident? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free consultation.

News of Boat Accident on Wisconsin Lake

Two injured during leisure activity accident

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources investigation has begun on a boat accident, which occurred June 13 on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Two people suffered injuries after a pair of boats collided at the Lakeside Park Harbor. Witnesses near the scene called in to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office around 6:22 a.m. They reported having seen an overturned boat in the lake near the harbor.

The initial investigation has determined that a boat driven by a 41-year-old Fond-du-lac, Wisconsin, man struck another boat, which injured two of the occupants aboard the stricken vessel. Police believe the accident happened as the two boats were both attempting to the leave the harbor.

The two victims were evacuated from the crash site to St. Agnes Hospital for treatment of their injuries. The hospital released both victims at a later time. There were no injuries to the driver of the boat who is alleged to have caused the collision, nor to his two passengers.

Members of the Fond du Lac City Police Department assisted sheriff’s deputies at the scene. There was no mention of whether alcohol or drugs contributed to this accident.

Victims of leisure activity accidents suffer injuries caused by a variety of outdoor events. These endeavors run the gamut from off-roading on ATVs and swimming to jet skiing and boating. Many of these outdoor activities are perfectly safe under most conditions. In fact, a large portion of injuries caused during leisure activities happen when other people fail to exercise reasonable care. Victims of preventable accidents should know that a party found negligent in such accidents may be obligated to compensate his or her victims for their medical costs and lost wages.

Source: fdlreporter.com, “Two injured in boating accident” No author given, Jun. 16, 2014

If you need legal representation for a personal injury lawsuit, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Tips for Milwaukee Lake Lovers

Wisconsin DNR offers tips for leisure activity accidents on water

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, May 7, 2014.

Spring is finally upon us and once again, and Milwaukee lake lovers are now beginning to return to Wisconsin lakes in their boats. That is why the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is trying to make the public aware that some very hazardous conditions still exist on area lakes that are sometimes overlooked. For example, although it may feel warm outside, it is important to remember that most lake water is still frigid. The temperature in the water may range between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the DNR, some people are still going out on the lake and ice fishing up in northern Wisconsin. If you are planning on ice-fishing, boating or otherwise getting out on the water, there are a few things you should know first about what to do if you experience a leisure activity accident during the course of your outing.

Department of Natural Resources wardens say that one of the first steps to take is to conduct a good “stem-to-stern” inspection of your boat or watercraft. One example is to look for structural damage on the outside of your boat. Small cracks may have begun to form in the hull of you boat as it sat idle during the off-season. You certainly don’t want to get all the way out into the middle of the lake and then discover that you have a fast leak that will cause the boat to sink before you can get to shore.

Additionally, DNR wardens advise people to refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages and then operating a watercraft. This activity can be especially hazardous when combined with speeding on the water’s surface. That is why you should also wear a life jacket and tell others when and where you are going to be out on the water.

In the event that an accident should occur and you find yourself in the water, the DNR says that you should try to immediately get back into the boat. If you are unable to do so, then you should hug yourself into a ball and lean back as you wait for rescue. By staying relaxed, you can prevent the reduction of your body temperature for a longer period of time.

If you are injured in an accident at the hands of someone operating a boat, you should know that there are legal methods to recover the costs of your medical treatment, lost wages and other damages. It is important to meet with a Milwaukee personal injury attorney in a timely manner after such an event to ensure that you don’t miss the statute of limitation on seeking compensation.

Source: Daily Journal, “Wisconsin DNR urges boaters to use extra caution on chilly, icy waters” No author given, May. 04, 2014

Alcohol Tied to Wisconsin Snowmobile Deaths

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

The warming weather of spring may bring an end to Wisconsin’s snowmobiling season, but the injuries from crashes that occurred may linger long past the melting of the snow.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the 2013 – 2014 season saw an uptick in the number of fatal snowmobile crashes in the state, with 23 people killed up from 20 from the prior season. Factors of alcohol intoxication and excessive speed are suspected in 65 percent of the fatal collisions. Statewide, there were 142 accidents with injuries involving snowmobiles.

Officials with the DNR acknowledge that because snowmobilers are required to self-report all accidents that cause injuries, there is likely to be a significant underestimation of the full number of crashes with injury.

Of this season’s fatalities, nine had BAC levels above the state level of intoxication of 0.08. The deceased all had levels in the 0.13 to 0.27 range. Alcohol played a suspected role in at least six other snowmobile fatalities.

The DNR’s snowmobile safety administrator said this season’s weather was optimal for snowmobiling on the state’s network of trails due to the extreme cold temperatures. The season before had been marred by unstable ice conditions, as early season freezing and thawing resulted in five drownings.

A Vilas County safety committee launched a zero tolerance policy for alcohol while snowmobiling, featuring public service messages on local radio and TV stations. Additionally, the trails are now identified by three-digit markers on each intersection, as 911 calls following crashes indicate that most snowmobilers had no idea what their location was in an area with over 600 miles of crisscrossing trails.

If you were injured by a snowmobiler in a recreational vehicle accident, whether or not he was impaired, you may be eligible for compensation and payment of your medical bills and other damages. A Milwaukee personal injury attorney can advise you of your rights in the matter.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Wisconsin: Snowmobile deaths rise; alcohol blamed” Ashley Luthern, Mar. 26, 2014