Georgia Boat Accident Lawyer
The attorneys at Prieto, Marigliano, Holbert, & Prieto, LLC, would like to consult with you on your boating accident injury. We are familiar with maritime law, a branch of the law that requires special expertise to navigate. Not only is the investigation process different than a case on dry land, but also your experienced law firm must understand maritime personal injuries.
We are fortunate to live in an area that is surrounded by water. That means recreational boating is very popular and lots of people own boats or rent a recreational boat or a fishing charter to take friends and family on excursions. However, accidents on the water happen frequently, especially when people are having fun and letting their guard down. We have seen accidents from slip and falls to falling overboard, getting caught up in fishing gear or ropes, losing a finger, or breaking a bone on a hatch. A swimmer can become the victim of a boating accident. Head injuries, traumatic brain injury and even death can occur on a recreational boat excursion.
Boating Statistics
The U.S. Coast Guard recorded 4,588 accidents, including 758 deaths and 3,108 injuries from recreational boating accidents in 2012 culminating in over $52,000,000.00 in property damage.
In Georgia, there were over 15 deaths and over 100 injuries. You might think experience would make for safer boating, but 63% of those who died had over 100 hours of operator training, according to the state.
Federal statistics show about 90% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. The two most important things a recreational boat operator can do are:
- Wear a life jacket and
- Take some type of boating education course, including training in real world situations on the water
Wearing the kill switch lanyard will allow the boat’s power to be killed if the operator is thrown into the water to avoid being cut by the propeller.
The most frequent cause of accidents on the water are careless operations, inattention, inexperience and the behavior of a passenger or skier. Alcohol plays a role in drowning deaths and deadly boating accidents. These are accidents that are entirely preventable.
There may also be occasions when a fishing charter boat owner is not a responsible professional who keeps his boat in good condition. If you are injured on a chartered fishing boat, Georgia law will allow you to be compensated in court by the negligent party to cover your medical expenses, rehabilitation and future care as well as time off work.
Contact Us For A Free Case Evaluation
Call our offices toll free at +1-404-618-0882 or send an email with a brief description of your accident and injury.