Two People Injured After Douglas Lake Boat Propeller Accident
Unicoi, TN (August 23, 2020) The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports that a boating accident at Douglas Lake on August 23rd resulted in two women being injured. The two women boarded an inner tube, which was to be pulled by a rental boat. Before they could be pulled by the boat, however, both women were struck by the boat’s propeller and experienced serious injuries. As a result of the injuries, the two women were transported to the University of Tennessee’s Medical Center in Knoxville. Additional details about the accident are still under investigation.
The United States Coast Guard found that in 2019, there were 171 accidents where at least one person was struck by a propeller. These accidents led to 35 deaths and 155 injuries in 2019.
Ways to Stay Safe Around Propellers
There are several safety strategies that people waterskiing, swimming, or engaging in other activities around boat propellers should remember to use to reduce the risk of being harmed by someone else’s negligence. These tips include:
- Boat operators should never place the boat’s engine in reverse and back towards anyone located on land or in the water.
- While boating, it is often a good idea to wear brightly colored clothing to make sure that you remain visible at all times to the boat’s operator.
- The boat’s operator should avoid putting the boat’s engine in gear until everyone is a safe distance from the boat.
Contact a Tennessee Boating Accident Lawyer
When boating accidents occur, the injuries can be serious. If someone else was responsible for your boating accident, do not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney at Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette today.
Note: This post was written based on available resources, news stories, and online reports about this incident. As is often the case with fast breaking news, there is always the risk that some details are still being shared and uncovered. Please contact us if you notice any information that should be changed or added. Thanks!
