When you get hurt in a boat accident, you may face a pile of medical bills and stress from worrying about how you’re going to pay for them. However, if a negligent boat operator or other careless party causes your injuries, you can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. As you focus on resting and recovering, let Bayuk Pratt pursue your claim.
We offer more than 50 years of combined legal experience and a record that includes over $300 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our founding attorneys served as senior partners for two of the world’s largest and most elite defense law firms. Our insider knowledge gives us the edge when building cases and seeking maximum compensation, and we are relentless in our pursuit of results.
Don’t wait to get the help you need at this critical moment. To learn more in a free consultation, contact a Georgia boat accident lawyer at Bayuk Pratt today.
What Are Some Causes of Georgia Boat Accidents?
Many different types of boating accidents in Georgia can lead to severe injuries, including the following:
- Capsizing
- Collisions with another boat
- Collisions with an object
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Falling off the boat
- Being struck by a boat while swimming.
In many cases, the underlying cause of the accident is the careless or reckless actions of the boat’s operator. For instance, boating accidents often occur due to the following:
- Operating the boat without adequate experience
- Going too fast
- Failing to pay attention
- Operating the boat while drunk or impaired by drugs
- Failing to adjust to heavy boat traffic or bad weather conditions.
If you suffer injuries because someone else operated a boat without regard for your safety, you can seek accountability and just compensation by working with Bayuk Pratt.
What Are Common Injuries in a Georgia Boating Accident?
Common boating injuries in Georgia include the following:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Drowning.
On average, 101 boat accidents occur annually in Georgia, and 18 people die in such accidents, according to recent data from the U.S. Coast Guard. In many of those accidents, drownings occur due to:
- Failure to wear a life jacket
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Lack of swimming skills
- Hypothermia.
Where Do Boating Accidents Happen in Georgia?
Lake Lanier, a little over an hour outside Atlanta, is the scene of many of the state’s boating accidents. Lakes Allatoona, Sinclair, and Oconee also see a considerable number of accidents.
What Are Georgia’s Boating Laws?
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the state’s boating laws include the following:
- Age restrictions on operating boats of different lengths
- Required equipment, such as personal flotation devices and fire extinguishers
- Forbidden behaviors, such as jumping another boat’s wake within 100 feet or intentionally splashing people sitting on a dock
- Laws against boating under the influence, with fines of up to $1,000 and up to a year in prison
- Laws against reckless operation and obstructing navigation.
The purpose of Georgia’s boating laws is to enhance the safety of boaters, swimmers, anglers, and everyone else who enjoys the state’s waters. A boating operator who violates those laws could face liability for resulting injuries.
Who Can Be Held at Fault for My Boating Accident Injuries?
Anyone who contributed to causing the boat accident could be at fault for causing your injuries. Depending on the circumstances, these parties could include the following:
- Boat operator whose negligence caused the accident
- Boat owner if they allowed an unqualified person to operate the boat or if they allowed the boat to be used despite knowing about a defect
- Manufacturer of a defective boat that was inherently unsafe to use
- Another passenger whose negligent behavior led to an accident.
Under Georgia’s comparative negligence law, the court hearing your case may reduce your compensation based on any fault it determines that you bear for the accident. So, the at-fault party’s insurance company has every reason to argue that your injuries were your fault. However, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you prove the policyholder’s fault and demand the insurer compensate you fairly.
What Types of Compensation Could Be Available in a Georgia Boat Accident Lawsuit?
Types of compensation you can demand in a Georgia boat accident lawsuit include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage.
A Georgia personal injury lawyer at Bayuk Pratt can review your case and advise you on how much it might be worth.
What Should You Do If You Have Been in a Georgia Boating Accident?
At Bayuk Pratt, we believe you should take the following steps after a Georgia boating accident to protect yourself and your right to compensation:
- Check for injuries and render first aid or assistance.
- File a Boating Accident Report within 48 hours with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at (800) 241-4113.
- Document injuries and property damage by taking photos or video.
- Obtain the contact information for all parties involved.
- Get in touch with a Georgia boat accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact a Georgia Boat Accident Lawyer Today
At Bayuk Pratt, we are a small practice that offers a big advantage — two highly experienced attorneys with the insider experience needed to win big cases. If you were injured in a Georgia boating accident, contact us today Your initial consultation will be free and without obligation, and you will pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your case.