Lana Batochir Critically Injured In Lake Michigan Boat Accident At Chicago’s ‘Playpen’

Personal Injury - August 13, 2022

Lana Batochir Critically Injured In Lake Michigan Boat Accident At Chicago’s ‘Playpen’ By Navy Pier —> GoFundMe Set Up To Help Victim

Lana Batochir Critically Injured In Lake Michigan Boat Accident At Chicago's 'Playpen'

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (August 13, 2022) – Lana Batochir was one of two women seriously injured after a boat backed over their raft on Lake Michigan near Chicago’s ‘Playpen’.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident occured around 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening. A boat captain was trying to anchor a rented vessel in Chicago’s Playpen when there was some type of malfunction with the anchor.

The boat started to drift as it was being maneuvered and ran over two women who were floating on a raft. One of the victims was later identified as 34-year-old Lana Batochir. She was pulled out of the water by her husband as she started to drown.

The other victim was 28-years-old. Paramedics were called to the scene of the boat accident near the Navy Pier. Both women were taken to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital with critical injuries.

A full investigation into the Lake Michigan boat accident remains ongoing at this time. You can help Lana Batochir as she continues to recover through GoFundMe.

She is facing extensive medical bills and will need to have both of her lower legs amputated.

Liability In Chicago Boat Accidents

Boat accidents are far more common than many people may realize. According to Statista, “In the United States, 767 people died as a result of boating accidents and 3,191 people were injured in 2020. Over the past 16 years, this figure decreased by over one and a half thousand.” Operator error contributes to the vast majority of boat accidents that occur. Though, there are many factors that could contribute to a boat accident.

  • Inclement weather
  • Boat malfunctions
  • Operator inexperience
  • Speeding

All boat operators have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting boats and people in the water. A good boat captain must scan the waters all around before moving in any direction. Boat operators are required by law to slow down when they approach people in the water. If a boat operator fails to slow down or makes unsafe movements, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

If a boat captain was working at the time of an accident, the company that they were working for could potentially be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a boat captain may have been transporting passengers when an accident took place.

The company that manufactured a boat could also potentially be liable for  an accident through a product liability claim. Boat manufacturers must make products that are reasonably safe. They can be liable for defects in the design, manufacture or marketing of their products. If a boat anchor malfunctioned due to some defect, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of boat accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:

  • Broken bones
  • Head injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Organ damage

Any person that is injured in a boat accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, insurance companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any accident. A boat accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Chicago Boat Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Lana Batochir and the other woman injured in this Lake Michigan boat accident. It is our sincere hope  that any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the two victims.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Chicago boat accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of Chicago boat accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.