As the heat of summer arrives in full force, more Georgians than ever will be heading to the many beautiful lakes in our area for weekends away, or simply for a day of fun with family. Pleasant as these short trips can be, they pose potential hazards that can lead to unexpected tragedy. I was sad to read in the AJC online today about a 15 year old girl who was seriously injured while being pulled behind a boat on an inner tube in Lake Lanier. She was apparently stuck by another boat as it passed close by. As a Georgia personal injury attorney, and as a boat owner on a local Georgia lake myself, this sad story serves as a reminder of the damage that can be caused by water craft, and of the way these cases must be handled when seeking money damages for injuries caused by boating accidents in Georgia.
Under Georgia law, boats are treated essentially as floating cars for purposes of determining fault when accidents occur. As with auto accidents, boaters are liable for damages caused by their negligence while boating on public lakes in our state. This includes failure to yield the right of way to other water traffic, failure to keep a safe lookout for other boaters or swimmers, and failure to obey the established rules for operating water craft safely in Georgia waters. Rules for operating boats, jet skis and other water craft in Georgia include age restrictions, speed limits, and registration and titling requirements.
When these tragedies occur, it is essential to gather as much information as possible as soon as possible. This can be difficult in boating accident cases because water craft are far more likely to be moved after an incident (before law enforcement can arrive to investigate) than is usually the case with car crashes. Contact information for any witnesses to the incident should be gathered, and photos taken of the water craft in question and of the negligent operator if possible. This information will assist an experienced attorney in building a case that will lead to the recovery of money damages against any negligent parties.
Sadly, many injuries caused by water craft also involve alcohol. When this is the case, an experienced attorney will explore not only a punitive damages claim against the intoxicated boater, but will also explore the possibility of money damages against anyone responsible for providing the alcohol. As a boat owner, and as an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney, I understand the unique issues that often arise in these tragic circumstances. If you or someone you know has been injured by a boat or other water craft, our law office would be pleased to schedule a meeting to discuss the matter. Please fell free to contact us.
