Braselton Boat Accident Lawyer

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Many Georgia residents enjoy swimming and boating on the state’s waterways during the year’s warmer months. While boating can be a fun and relaxing pastime, it can also be dangerous. Being involved in a boat accident is a frightening experience and can leave you with painful, permanent, and sometimes life-threatening injuries.

If you were injured in a crash offshore because of someone else’s negligence, you have legal options. A Braselton boat accident lawyer could help you pursue the compensation you deserve by gathering evidence, calculating damages, and handling insurance company negotiations. The seasoned injury attorneys at Smith Hulsey are ready to get to work for you.

Laws and Regulations for Boaters

Boaters in Braselton must understand and adhere to the state rules and regulations or risk facing fines and other penalties. According to the instruction provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, individuals aged 16 years or older can legally operate a watercraft on state waterways. However, anyone born after January 1, 1998, must complete a state-approved boater education course beforehand.

State regulations also enforce traffic and safety laws for boaters. Boating operators must slow down within 100 feet of other water vessels, piers, docks, or shorelines. Additional safety regulations include the following:

  • When approaching another watercraft, boat operators must pass on the right side
  • Motor-powered boats must yield to sailboats
  • Boaters must stay as far to the right side as possible in narrow waterways

When boating operators fail to follow these regulations and cause an accident, they could be liable for any damage they cause. A boat crash attorney in Braselton could investigate whether an operator was following safety regulations and determine an injured party’s legal options for compensation.

Boat Crash Injuries Can Be Severe

Boating accidents can occur in any body of water, including oceans, rivers, or lakes. Some of the common causes of boat crash injuries include the following:

  • Boat operators and passengers failing to wear life jackets
  • Failing to follow the 100 feet rule and colliding with another watercraft vessel
  • Operating a boat after consuming drugs or alcohol
  • Distractions and boater inattention or inexperience
  • Careless actions causing boats to capsize
  • Speeding and reckless boating

Any collision could lead to a passenger falling overboard, adding to the risk of drowning or disappearing. People in the water could also sustain severe lacerations if they come in contact with a boat’s propeller.

Crucial Steps After an Accident

After a boating collision, it is essential that all boating operators safely stop their vehicles. All injured parties should seek medical care as soon as possible, then call an experienced Braselton attorney to discuss the possibility of a boating collision claim.

Recoverable Damages for Boat Accidents Injury Cases

Compensation after a boating wreck depends on the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries and how these injuries will affect the plaintiff’s life in the long run. The court will also consider the accident details, including the defendant’s actions leading up to the incident, to determine who is liable for providing compensation. Recoverable damages in boat accident injury claims may include the following:

  • Past and future medical costs
  • Physical therapy appointments and other follow-up care
  • Loss of salary and benefits
  • Lost future earning potential
  • Pain and suffering

A Braselton attorney could answer specific questions about potential compensation for a boating crash.

Meet With an Experienced Braselton Boat Accident Attorney

We all love enjoying a warm and sunny day with friends and family on the water. However, careless actions can cause a boating excursion to turn tragic in the blink of an eye.

If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer injuries and other losses, you should not have to worry about affording medical care and other needs. A fair compensation award could cover these costs and allow you to focus on recovering. Schedule a free consultation with a Braselton boat accident lawyer at Smith Hulsey to get started.

Smith Hulsey Law

Smith Hulsey Law
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