Three passengers were on board a flat-bottom boat that sank on Saturday, January 16, 2021 in Colbert County, Alabama. At the time, the boat was at Cane Creek located on the Tennessee River in Alabama. It is unclear what caused the vessel to sink, resulting in all three passengers going into the water. The individuals have been identified as Dennis Glenn, John Melville, and Mr. Melville’s six-year-old son. Reports indicate that one individual has been pronounced dead, and the other two passengers were transferred to a local hospital for treatment. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been impacted by this tragedy.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels capsizing or sinking. The cargo ship Xin Hong capsized off the coast of Vietnam on December 17, 2020, with 15 sailors on board. The fishing vessel Onega sank while in the Barents Sea on December 28, 2020. The Chinese cargo ship DINGHAOJI7 sank on December 31, 2020, with 13 crew on board. On January 17, 2021, the Ukrainian cargo ship Arvin sank with 13 crew members on board. Also on January 17, the supply ship Mermaid Challenger sank northeast of Borneo with 7 crew members on board.
A vessel capsizing can be the result of many factors, including: human error, weather conditions, equipment failure, poor maintenance practices or a lack of equipment. A capsized boat can often be a result of a combination of the above factors. The unfortunate reality is that many maritime companies cut corners, which puts the lives of their workers and the general public at risk on a daily basis. Safe boat owners and operators must have adequate procedures in place to govern the work performed by the crew to ensure the safety of everyone on board.
Our experienced lawyers handle maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation of all kinds and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country. Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and death cases involving recreational boating accidents.
The experienced and aggressive vessel accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic accident. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your rights.