Marietta Boat Accident Lawyer | GA | Spaulding Injury Law (2024)

According to theUnited States Coast Guard (USCG), there were 4,439 boat accidents in the U.S. in a recent year, resulting in 658 deaths, 2,641 injuries, and $67.5 million in property damage. TheGeorgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that there were 114 boating incidents in the state in 2021, including 243 boating under the influence (BUI) offenses, 67 injuries, 14 fatalities, and 69 drownings.

Boat accidentscan be very confusing personal injury claims for you to handle because liability is not always apparent, and there can be several other challenges in obtaining financial compensation for injuries. If you were involved in a boat accident, you want to quickly seek the help of an experiencedMarietta boat accident attorney so you can have the right assistance in determining how to file a legal claim.

Common Causes of Boat Accidents

According to the USCG, when the cause of death is known, 81 percent of victims drown in boat accidents, and 83 percent of such victims were not wearing life jackets. Alcohol use is the lead known contributing factor infatal boating accidents, listed as a leading factor in 16 percent of cases.

Other common causes of boat accidents include:

Hazardous waters
Improper lookout
Falls overboard
Operator inattention
Sinkings
Operator inexperience
Fires
Excessive speed
Equipment failure
Inclement weather
Breakdowns
Navigational rules violations
Reckless actions by drivers or passengers
Force of waves or wakes
Lack of proper safety gear

Boat Accident Injuries

Boat accidents have the potential to causesevere injuriesin many cases, and you could face prolonged periods of hospitalization and many months or even years of rehabilitation. Boat accidents have the potential to cause such injuries as:

Fractures or broken bones
Back injuries
Knee injuries
Leg injuries
Neck injuries
Arm injuries
Concussions
Closed head injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis
Crush injuries
Internal injuries
Skull fractures
Permanent nerve injuries
Amputations
Severe burn injuries
Wrongful death

POSSIBLE BOAT ACCIDENT LOCATIONS

There are several locations in and around the greater Marietta area in which you could use recreational boats. Some of the common boating locations in Georgia include:

Lake Allatoona
Lake Blackshear
Lake Lanier
Lake Oconee
Lake Burton
Lake Blue Ridge
Carters Lake
Lake Chatuge
Goat Rock Lake
A.H. Stephens State Park
Crooked River State Park
F.D. Roosevelt State Park
Florence Marina State Park
Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Yargo State Park
George L. Smith State Park
Jack Hill (Gordonia) State Park
Hard Labor Creek State Park
High Falls State Park
Indian Springs State Park
James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park
Kolomoki Mounds State Park
Reed Bingham State Park
Seminole State Park
Stephen C. Foster State Park
Sweetwater Creek State Park

POSSIBLE DAMAGES IN A BOAT ACCIDENT CASE

When you are involved in a boat accident, you may be entitled to seek financial compensation, known as damages. Compensatory damages typically involve a combination of economic damages and noneconomic damages.

What To Do After a Boat Accident

Boat accidents will be confusing situations to understand. Important steps you should take include:

Seek medical attention— Anybody involved in a boat accident must always get prompt medical treatment fortheir injuries. Even when you do not think you were hurt, medical attention is still important because several injuries could involve delayed symptoms, and you do not want to delay visiting a doctor because insurance companies will be very likely to challenge any injury claims if there is any window of time between the date of an accident and medical attention. Create a medical record as soon as possible after any boat accident.
Call the police— You should always get law enforcement involved when there areany injuriesor extensive damage to a vessel.
Report the accident— An operator involved in a boating accident must stop their vessel immediately at the scene of an accident, assist anyperson who was injured(unless doing so would endanger themselves), and give, in writing, their name, address, and vessel identification to any injured person or property owner when property is damaged in an accident. Vessel operators must report accidents by the quickest means possible when an accident results in death, the disappearance of a person, injury requiring first aid, or property damage exceeding $2,000. An owner or operator must file an accident report as supplied by theGeorgia DNR, and most reports of accidents must be made within five days of the accident. A person must report an accident within 48 hours if someone dies within 24 hours of an accident, is disabled for more than 24 hours, requires medical treatment for their injuries, or disappears from a vessel.
Get boater information— When a boataccident involvesanother vessel, you want to get the names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance information for other boaters.
Preserve evidence— Always take photographs or video of boats and any other relevant circ*mstances relating to a boat accident, and try to get close-ups of damage. Also photograph your injuries while they are at their worst.
Contact your own insurance company— You can report an accident to your own insurance company but you may want to wait to file a claim with another insurance company until you havelegal representation.
Call a lawyer— You will need to retain legal counsel without delay after any boat accident. Make sure you have a legal professional on your side who can help you explore your rights and ensure that a negligent party is held accountable.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Marietta Boat Accident Lawyer

If you suffered serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a boat accident in the greater Marietta area, you will want to get legal help right away. Spaulding Injury Law understands how confusing these types of claims can be for most people, and we will work closely with you so you can understand all of your rights in these cases.Our firm encourages you to read our Google reviews, many of which are five-star reviews. You can call us or contact us onlineto arrange a free consultation.

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