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1/21/2012
Brian Beckcom
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North Carolina Woman Sues Chaparral Boats Inc. After Losing Her Arm

A North Carolina woman named Deondra Scott lost her arm by a boat propeller on Lake Norman. Scott has now filed a lawsuit against the boat’s driver, owner, and manufacturer, Chaparral Boats Inc.

On June 25th, Lake Norman was having the most crowded event of the year called the “Lake Bash” party. Scott was one of many attendees on the lake and was aboard the 24-foot long vessel which was driven by Dennis Allen, who had rented the boat from David Orzolek. Allen had never driven a boat before.

Scott was swimming near the boat when her arm gave way to the propeller’s pull and was chopped off. Witnesses jumped in the water to help her, she was injured so badly she could not swim to the surface.

But here’s the question. Why would the boat’s owner, David Orzolek, rent his boat out to someone who has never driven a boat nor knows the proper safety features related to the boat?

The lawsuit not only charges Allen and Orzolek with negligence, but it accuses Chaparral Boats Inc. of a design defect and claims that they fail to warn it’s retailers.

The suit continues to say that the vessel has various features which promote swimming in the water directly behind the boat. Allen did not have the skill or experience to handle a motorboat in a public area, especially during an event.

In fact, Allen was so panicked that he put the boat in reverse, causing the propeller to hit Scott a second time!


Orzolek also failed to provide adequate instruction to Allen in case of an emergency as well as other important factors, such as weight limits. The vessel was only able to hold fourteen passengers, on the day of the accident sources have said there could have been up to twenty. Only eleven life jackets were on board that day – not enough for everyone.

Though the amount of damages Scott is asking for has yet to be released, we do know her medical bills are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

V&B has seen case after case of negligence on the water. Innocent swimmers around the boat are not expected to be aware of such dangers. It is the driver’s and the manufacturer’s responsibility to maintain the safety of its vessel and passengers.

The experienced lawyers at V&B have had settled millions of dollars for our clients. Please visit our website for free information that will help you answer your questions.

Contact our offices for a free consultation: 888-473-1258.


Category: General

Labels: accidental attorney boat accident Boat accident attorney Chaparral Boat Inc injured at sea injured victim Lake Norman lawyer maritime accident North Carolina Passenger severed arm severed limb swimming accident

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