A ferry ran aground on Battery Island, North Carolina on December 17, injuring more than 12 people, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The passenger ferry was carrying 53 passengers at the time of the accident. One passenger was flown to a local hospital, while 12 others were taken to regional hospitals. Seven other passengers walked into the emergency room at Dosher Memorial Hospital after the accident. All injured in the accident are expected to recover and no one was reported in critical condition.
The Adventure Ferry was heading from Southport to Bald Head Island at the time of the accident and came to a sudden stop around 9 a.m., tossing passengers and crew around the ship. According to Bald Head Island Transportation officials, the company that operates the ferry, the ferry has been “suspended until the Coast Guard determines the passageway is safe.”
An investigation into why the ferry ran aground is still underway. According to U.S. Coast Guard officials, the investigation could take months. During the initial investigation, Coast Guard officials and ferry crew looked at the boat’s stability on the water. The ferry was dislodged from the sandbar on December 18 by a tugboat.
This accident occurs less than a month after a New Jersey ferry accident that injured several people on board, including the vessel’s captain, when it hit a Jersey City pier. Five passengers and two crewmembers, one being the captain, reported injuries. Three were treated at the scene and four others, including the captain, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. An investigation into what caused the accident is ongoing, but witnesses to the incident stated that the ferry was traveling at a high rate of speed before it hit the pier.
Find a Ferry Accident Attorney
Our nationwide maritime trial lawyers can help if you have been injured in a ferry accident. When ferry crewmembers are negligent and operate the vessel recklessly or ignore safety procedures, passengers and other crew are at a great risk for injury. You do not have to fight ferry corporations alone for compensation. Let our maritime law attorneys get the justice and compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. Contact us today to discuss your options.
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Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/us/north-carolina-ferry-runs-aground/