Atlanta Boating Accident Attorney for Serious Injury & Wrongful Death

Atlanta Boating Accident Injury Attorney

An Experienced Atlanta Attorney for Serious Injury & Wrongful Death in Boating Accidents

One of the great things about living in Georgia is the access to nature. Around Atlanta, we have Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, and Lake Oconee. These are all fun destinations for families with opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boating.

Unfortunately, sometimes these fun-filled water activities can end in tragedy, leaving lives lost or forever changed due to the negligence of others. The Personal Injury Attorneys at Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, represent boating accident injury victims and their families, helping them recover compensation for their losses.

What are Boating Accident Injury Cases in Georgia?

Most Georgia Boating accidents happen due to a collision on the water due to driver inattention, negligence, or intoxication with alcohol. Other common causes include:

  • Impacting a fixed object, such as a dock, pier, or bridge.
  • Overloading and overcrowding a boat.
  • Colliding with other watercraft.
  • Not knowing marine laws and navigational rules.
  • Operating at high, unsafe speeds.
  • Defective watercraft design or repair.
  • Ejections from the boat due to improper operation.
  • Operating a boat in adverse and dangerous weather conditions.
  • Negligent contact with propellers.
  • Failing to keep a lookout while a guest is being pulled behind the boat.

According to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, 66 percent of boating accidents lead to injuries, and 12 percent are fatal. Accidents can cause lacerations, crush injuries, and other bodily traumas.

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a boating accident, you should consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to learn about recovering compensation for your loss.

Proving Negligence & Causation in Georgia Boating Accident Injury Cases

Just like cars and trucks, Georgia has laws for the operation of boats. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources lists things that all boaters must abide by, such as age requirements, training, and speed of travel.

This can create situations similar to car accidents, where your attorney can use negligence per se to show that a violation of the law proves negligence on its own. The person operating the boat may also be liable for simply operating the boat in an unsafe manner. If they are not taking care on choppy water or piloting the craft too fast resulting in a collision, there will be a strong argument to show the boater was negligent, and that their negligent actions resulted in your injuries.

When on the water, there are many ways that a person can fail to meet their duty of care:

Boating accidents can occur in isolated areas, involve third party owners, and can happen in hard to reach places where help may not arrive as fast as it would in a car accident. This can make determining fault and your injuries far more complicated.

Compensation and Damages Recoverable in Georgia Boating Accident Injury Cases

Victims of boating accidents and personal injuries may be able to obtain several types of compensation. For those suffering from a catastrophic injury, these cases often focus on the long-term effects as well as the individual’s ability to continue working and lead an independent life. Your Atlanta boating accident attorney will work with you to fight for compensation for the full value of your losses, including financial recovery for:

  • Current medical bills.
  • Future medical costs.
  • Any in-home care that may be required.
  • Physical rehabilitation.
  • Required medical equipment and devices.
  • Long-term disability.
  • Lost wages.
  • Loss of future earning potential.
  • Mental anguish.
  • Loss of lifestyle enjoyment.

In rare cases, punitive damages may be applicable. The exact type and amount of damages will depend on the facts of the case, the severity of your injuries, and the insurance policies of the responsible parties. Our dedicated civil trial lawyers are committed to fighting for full and fair compensation for our boating accident clients.

Types of Georgia Boating Accident Cases We Handle

  • Broken Bones Case Icon
    Broken Bones

    Impact from boating accidents can cause major bone fractures resulting in life-altering consequences. If the boating accident that caused a bone fracture was the result of another’s negligence, it’s essential to obtain legal counsel.

    Read More

  • Back, Neck, and Disc Injuries Case Icon
    Back, Neck, and Disc Injuries

    Back, neck and disc injuries caused by boating accidents can lead to severe pain, limit the quality of life, and result in significant, ongoing treatment and medical expenses. Victims may be liable for compensation.

    Read More

  • Wrongful Death Case Icon
    Wrongful Death

    Unexpected deaths caused by boating accidents can take a massive emotional and financial toll. If your family has suffered a wrongful death, then you are entitled to recover for the loss of value by the life of the deceased.

    Read More

  • Burn Injuries Case Icon
    Burn Injuries

    Many survivors of boating accidents resulting in catastrophic burn injuries sustain scarring, life-long disabilities, and adjustment difficulties. Because of the lifelong impact of burn injuries, we advise legal representation for financial recovery.

    Read More

  • Loss of Limb and Amputation Case Icon
    Loss of Limb and Amputation

    Victims of amputation from a boating accident may be able to pursue financial compensation from the responsible party with the help of a personal injury attorney.

    Read More

  • Brain Injuries Case Icon
    Brain Injuries

    If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury in Georgia due to a boating accident caused by another’s negligent or criminal actions, you may have grounds for an injury claim and appropriate compensation for your damages.

    Read More

  • Spinal Cord Injury Case Icon
    Spinal Cord Injury

    Boating accidents can lead to catastrophic spinal cord injuries. If you suffer a spinal cord injury in a boating accident caused by another’s negligence, it’s important consult with a personal injury attorney.

    Read More

  • Catastrophic Injuries Case Icon
    Catastrophic Injuries

    Victims of catastrophic injury due to boating accidents may be liable to compensation. Catastrophic injury boating accident cases in Georgia should only be pursued with the help of an experienced injury lawyer.

    Read More

Types of Georgia Boating Accident Cases We Handle

  • Broken Bones Case Icon
    Broken Bones

    Impact from boating accidents can cause major bone fractures resulting in life-altering consequences. If the boating accident that caused a bone fracture was the result of another’s negligence, it’s essential to obtain legal counsel.

    Read More

  • Back, Neck, and Disc Injuries Case Icon
    Back, Neck, and Disc Injuries

    Back, neck and disc injuries caused by boating accidents can lead to severe pain, limit the quality of life, and result in significant, ongoing treatment and medical expenses. Victims may be liable for compensation.

    Read More

  • Wrongful Death Case Icon
    Wrongful Death

    Unexpected deaths caused by boating accidents can take a massive emotional and financial toll. If your family has suffered a wrongful death, then you are entitled to recover for the loss of value by the life of the deceased.

    Read More

  • Burn Injuries Case Icon
    Burn Injuries

    Many survivors of boating accidents resulting in catastrophic burn injuries sustain scarring, life-long disabilities, and adjustment difficulties. Because of the lifelong impact of burn injuries, we advise legal representation for financial recovery.

    Read More

  • Loss of Limb and Amputation Case Icon
    Loss of Limb and Amputation

    Victims of amputation from a boating accident may be able to pursue financial compensation from the responsible party with the help of a personal injury attorney.

    Read More

  • Brain Injuries Case Icon
    Brain Injuries

    If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury in Georgia due to a boating accident caused by another’s negligent or criminal actions, you may have grounds for an injury claim and appropriate compensation for your damages.

    Read More

  • Spinal Cord Injury Case Icon
    Spinal Cord Injury

    Boating accidents can lead to catastrophic spinal cord injuries. If you suffer a spinal cord injury in a boating accident caused by another’s negligence, it’s important consult with a personal injury attorney.

    Read More

  • Catastrophic Injuries Case Icon
    Catastrophic Injuries

    Victims of catastrophic injury due to boating accidents may be liable to compensation. Catastrophic injury boating accident cases in Georgia should only be pursued with the help of an experienced injury lawyer.

    Read More

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Georgia Boating Accident Injury FAQs

How Dangerous Are Boating Accidents?

According to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, 66% of boating accidents lead to injury, with 12% being fatal. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a catastrophic boating accident, you should promptly consult with an attorney to learn about recovering compensation for your loss.

What Causes Boating Accidents?

In some cases, failure of boating equipment or defective boating machinery is to blame. In 2021, a Georgia jury awarded $200 million to the family of a 7-year-old boy killed in a boating accident on Lake Burton.

Jurors held that the makers of the boat failed to warn users of a safety hazard related to an unguarded propeller in one of its models of water-skiing boats. Jurors also found that the boat operator had been negligent in driving it. A significant part of that award was in punitive damages, which are special damages intended to punish gross negligence.

If you’ve been injured as a result of a boat operator’s negligence, there may be grounds to pursue civil litigation. Consult with a boating accident attorney to learn your options.

When Do Georgia Boating Accident Victims Deserve Compensation?

Given the nature of boating and the unpredictability of Georgia’s rivers and lakes, boating injuries can result from many different scenarios.

Many people assume some degree of risk when they go out on the water. Boating accidents are often the result of a negligent operator. Many cases in which negligent boating operators are held responsible for another person’s injury or watercraft include some of the following circumstances:

  • Impacting a fixed object, such as a dock, pier or bridge.
  • Overloading and overcrowding a boat.
  • Colliding with other watercraft.
  • Not knowing marine laws and navigational rules.
  • Operating at high, unsafe speeds.
  • Defective watercraft design or repair.
  • Ejections from the boat due to improper operation.
  • Operating a boat in adverse and dangerous weather conditions.
  • Negligent contact with propellers.
  • Failing to keep a lookout while a guest is being pulled behind the boat.

These are just some of the circumstances in which boating accident victims earn compensation from their lawsuit. To get a better understanding about the legality of your Georgia boating accident case, consult with Stephen Apolinsky to start building your legal strategy.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations For Boating Accident Injury Claims In Georgia?

In Georgia, the statute of limitations outlined in O.C.G.A. 9-3-33, dictates that you must file your case within 2 years of the accident. This is true for both injury and wrongful death cases. In most cases, if you try to file your lawsuit after the 2-year window, the court will refuse to hear it.

Based on this Georgia statute of limitations alone, it’s best to take legal action regarding your accident as soon as possible. At Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers take the time to collect evidence and witness statements in pursuit of your boating accident lawsuit. We research and investigate all details of the accident to better construct a winning case. We have a history of success helping many Georgians receive compensation from personal injury claims involving catastrophic boating accidents.