Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of Duck Boat Victims

On July 19, 2018, 31 people were aboard a duck boat tour on Table Rock Lake, in Branson, Missouri, when a severe thunderstorm brought near-hurricane-strength winds and five-foot waves, which caused the amphibious vehicle to capsize and sink. Seventeen out of the 31 people died in the incident. The survivors were taken to a nearby Branson hospital, and afterwards discharged.

Tia Coleman, whose husband and three children drowned, filed suit in federal court against six companies in the duck boat industry, including Ripley Entertainment. Coleman is requesting monetary damages, along with a shutdown of the manufacture and operation of the amphibious vehicles in the U.S. until all design errors are corrected. The suit alleges that the companies ignored the National Transportation Safety Board’s warning in 2000 that the vehicles should be upgraded to ensure they remain upright and floating in rough weather. At least ten other lawsuits have been filed on behalf of other victims.

This is not the first time an incident like this has occurred. Duck boats have been involved in a series of tragic accidents across the country. In 1999, a similar incident killed 13 people on Arkansas’ Lake Hamilton. Other incidents took place in 2002, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, and more recently, the 2018 Branson tragedy.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed due to the negligence of someone else, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling personal injury cases. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.