The last thing you want to happen when you are out on the water enjoying a wonderful day is to experience an accident. A boating accident can leave your boat dead in the water until it has the necessary repairs and can cause serious injury for you and your passengers. When you are in a boating accident, and someone else was the cause, you are entitled to damages. Knowing what damages you are entitled to and the best way to go about collecting them can be difficult to determine in the time following your accident, as you have injuries to recover from and property to repair.

Georgia is a state in which the residents appreciate the water, with the state having some 14 river basins, 23 large lakes, and nearly half a million acres of public lakes and reservoirs. In addition to the many land-locked bodies of water, Georgia also has about one hundred miles of coastline. The state is home to over three hundred thousand registered boats, and while most recreational boaters have a great and accident-free time, there are many Georgians and visitors to the state injured in boating accidents each year.

Boat Accident Attorneys In Lawrenceville

Georgia and boats just seem to belong together. With all the beautiful waterways available to us, boat enthusiasts can’t wait to get out on the water. Boat accidents, however, happen, and because they come with the very real risk of drowning – in even relatively minor accidents – they are a serious concern. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a boat accident, an experienced Lawrenceville boat accident attorney is standing by to help.

An experienced Lawrenceville boating accident lawyer from Spaulding Injury Law can help you explore options in your case to determine what damages you are entitled to and to collect them on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your accident.

What Causes Boating Accidents in Georgia?

The reason behind boating accidents can vary significantly, but some of the most common causes of boating accidents are recklessness, distracted driving, and intoxication. When a driver causes an accident because they were engaging in illegal activity or they were being irresponsible, they are generally liable for the damages that they cause.

Drunk driving and distracted driving are leading causes of accidents on the road, and the same goes for the water. BUI, or boating under the influence, is targeted by the United States Coast Guard as one of the most dangerous activities that a boater can engage in.

When boating under the influence, there are a great many additional dangers involved in operating the boat. Alcohol influences the boat driver’s judgment, balance, coordination, and vision. According to data collected by the U.S. Coast Guard, many boating deaths that involve alcohol were in more than half of instances caused when victims capsized their boats and fell overboard. Recreational boaters are rarely as experienced driving boats as they are driving cars, given how rare boating outings can be in comparison, which can make intoxicated boat drivers even more dangerous on the water.

What Should I Do After a Boating Accident?

If you have been in a boating accident, it is important to make sure that you do not admit fault or responsibility for the accident. You cannot possibly know what the other boat drivers were doing in the moments leading up to the accident or whether they were distracted or drunk while driving the boat. Your boating accident attorney works to ensure that all the evidence you need to determine what happened in the accident and who was at fault is collected and put to work in your favor.

When another driver has caused your boating accident, you will likely be collecting your damages from their insurance company. After the accident you might receive a quick settlement offer from the insurance company that seems to cover your immediate repairs and medical bills. Initial settlement offers are meant to get you to accept them so that the insurance company doesn’t have to invest much time in processing your claim, and so that you don’t have time to accurately measure the damages that are associated with your injury.

Connecting with a local Lawrenceville boating accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident will ensure that you are able to collect the fullest possible damages for your injuries and damaged property. When necessary, your attorney can connect you with medical and occupational experts in the area who can accurately determine the impact of your injuries’ symptoms on your future health and condition, and also how your symptoms might impact your ability to work. When you are in an accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and any lost earnings or future earning potential associated with your accident.

What Other Ways Can a Lawrenceville Boat Accident Attorney Help?

If the driver of the other boat was reckless, intoxicated, or distracted when they caused the accident that injured you, the reckless boater can be held responsible for their careless actions that led to the accident. Your attorney will investigate the accident thoroughly by interviewing witnesses, putting together expert testimony, and collecting other evidence to ensure that you are fully compensated for the costs associated with the accident. This means you can get to moving on with your life, physically recovering from your injuries, and repairing your boat.

Connect with a Lawrenceville Boating Accident Attorney Now

When you have an accident, and someone else is at fault, you will most likely be filing your claim with their insurance company, and insurance companies have teams of claim specialists and attorneys working full-time to deny and reduce claims so they can increase profit. You are not their primary concern, and when the insurance company can avoid having to pay you anything, they will.

Without an attorney of your own to even the playing field, you are at a disadvantage. This disadvantage is all the more significant as you have just been through an accident and are trying to recover from your injuries. Your attorney steps into your shoes and handles all the negotiations and communications for you so that you can focus on moving past the accident while your lawyer focuses on ensuring that you recover in full from it.

To line up support for your case to ensure that you collect the full damages you are entitled to, schedule a consultation with Spaulding Injury Law today. 

The Statistics

The U.S. Coast Guard shares important statistics related to boat accidents across the nation and in the State of Georgia. Consider the following from a recent year in the United States:

• Georgia had a total of 91 boating accidents, which was a five-year low.
• Georgia saw 17 boating fatalities, which was second in terms of the most fatal boating accidents per year over the past five years. 

Further, the Coast Guard shares several of the most common kinds of boating accidents that Georgia experienced that same year, including:

• 27 collisions with recreational vessels
• 11 collisions with fixed objects
• 7 groundings
• 6 collisions with submerged objects
• 5 capsizing accidents
• 4 falls on the vessel
• 3 accidents involving ejection from a vessel
• 3 falls overboard 
• 3 fuel-based fires or explosions
• 1 collision with a floating object

Boating accidents happen, and they are often the result of negligent operators who fail to employ the necessary safety rules of the waterway.

Boats Offer Fewer Protections

When you’re on a boat, you’re unlikely to be provided with a dedicated seat in which you can buckle up and benefit from the safety provided by airbags. To make matters that much more precarious, you’re at the mercy of how well the boat owner maintains the vessel you’re on, including whether or not it has the necessary safety gear on board. Such safety gear – according to the Coast Guard’s Vessel & Equipment Checklist – includes all the following:

• A working horn
• A properly adjusted compass
• Suitably sized life jackets that are in good condition and readily available for every occupant of the boat 
• Throwable floatation devices that are immediately available for any ensuing emergencies
• Fully charged, working fire extinguishers that are conveniently distributed throughout the vessel
• Visual distress signals that are up to date
• An anchor and anchor line that is appropriate for the depth and condition of the waterway in question
• Fully functioning lights
• Lifelines and grab rails that are in good condition

Negligence on the Part of the Operator

An operator’s negligence can put you – as an occupant of the boat – in harm’s way. Further, because boating tends to be more recreational than a matter of transportation, the person manning the boat you’re enjoying may be doing a bit too much enjoying of their own. Because boats and parties are nearly synonymous, it’s also important to factor in how seriously the boat’s operator is taking their responsibility for the safety of everyone on the waterway. 

The fact is that those who navigate boats – just like those who navigate cars and other vehicles – can engage in the same forms of dangerous negligence that commonly lead to traffic accidents, including all the following:

• Distraction 
• Impairment
• Exhaustion
• Excess speed
• Aggression

Each of these represents its own brand of danger at the helm of a boat. 

Your Legal Damages

If you are injured by someone else’s negligence in a boating accident, recovering on your complete range of losses – or legal damages – can be critical to your overall health and well-being. As such, it’s important to have a firm handle on the categories of loss you’ve experienced. 

Property Damage

If you were manning your own vessel and were injured by another operator’s negligence, you’ll likely face property damage to your boat and its contents, which can be exceptionally costly. 

Medical Expenses

The physical injuries you sustain can lead to cascading medical expenses, and if your injuries are serious, you may be facing medical bills that continue into your future, which can be exacerbated by any resulting complications. Common medical expenses include:

• Emergency and surgical care
• Hospital stays
• Medical care and treatments
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Pain management

Lost Earnings 

While you pour your efforts into recovering from the injuries you’ve sustained, you will very likely be off the job, which can lead to lost earnings. Serious injuries can lead to serious losses that can evolve into a decrease in earning potential, which translates to long-term financial deficits. If your ability to continue advancing your career in accordance with your life’s goals, it can also have tremendous emotional consequences, which should not be ignored. 

Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering

Boat accidents tend to be terrifying events that leave boat occupants exceptionally vulnerable. The physical and emotional pain and suffering you endure as a result can be difficult to overstate, and psychological symptoms like the following can haunt you into your future:

• Intense fear of the water
• Terrifying flashbacks of the boat accident
• Difficulty managing one’s emotions
• Increased anxiety that can include panic attacks 
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and nightmares
• Lack of focus
• Symptoms of depression
• Difficulty connecting with loved ones

One of the most profound effects of these emotional losses is that they can build a wall between you and your support system just when you need that support the most. Never underestimate all of the intangible effects of an accidental injury on your life, as they can be costly. The law provides compensation for these losses just like financial losses. 

Consult with an Experienced Lawrenceville Boat Accident Attorney Today

When it comes to terrifying accidents, boat accidents are in a league of their own. If someone’s negligence causes you or someone you love to be injured in a boat accident, the accomplished Lawrenceville boat accident attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law have the experience, focus, and keen legal skill to help guide your claim toward a favorable resolution that upholds your rights and best interests. Learn more about how we can help by contacting or calling us at 770-744-0890 today.

Spaulding Injury Law: Lawrenceville Personal Injury Lawyers is located at  223 Scenic Hwy S #202, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, United States.