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Gwinnett County Boat Accident Lawyer
Any accident on or near the water—whether on a dock, between two boats, or resulting from a collision with swimmers—could result in life-altering injuries. If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence on the water, you may have the right to compensation. All boaters assume a duty to keep others safe, and any breach of that duty can be the basis for a personal injury claim.
A Gwinnett County boat accident lawyer could help you pursue negligent boaters and their insurance companies for compensation following an injury. A skilled personal injury attorney in Peachtree Corners could help gather evidence concerning the incident and demand full payments for all your losses.
How a Defendant Boater Could Be At Fault
From a legal standpoint, boat accidents are similar to car accidents. Just like drivers on the road, all boaters assume certain legal responsibilities when they operate their vessels.
More specifically, the law requires that boaters operate in a manner that does not place any other person at an unnecessary risk of harm. If a boater fails in this duty and someone is injured as a result, that boater carries the responsibility to provide compensation.
Some of the most common examples of negligent behavior on the water include:
- Exceeding posted speed limits
- Ignoring navigational buoys
- Boating in swimming areas
- Boating while intoxicated
A Peachtree Corners boat accident attorney could help a plaintiff examine the evidence in their case as it relates to a negligence claim.
Limits to Compensation
Many boat accident cases in Gwinnett County are straightforward. Most cases involve a police report that includes an unbiased statement of facts and may assign blame to a particular defendant. Still, defendants sometimes argue that a plaintiff was partially responsible for the accident that caused their injuries, a legal consideration known as comparative negligence.
Like the rest of Georgia, Gwinnett County employs the concept of modified comparative negligence in boat accident cases. According to the Official Code of Georgia §51-12-33, a court ruling on a negligence case may assign blame to each party involved in the incident.
For example, a jury may find that a defendant is 75 percent to blame for a particular accident while the plaintiff holds 25 percent of the responsibility. If so, the jury would award the plaintiff a maximum of 75 percent of their earned damages as compensation. If the jury finds that the plaintiff is 50 percent or more to blame, however, the plaintiff would not be able to recover any compensation.
A boat accident lawyer in Gwinnett County could work to defend an accident victim from accusations of comparative negligence. In doing so, they could help ensure that an injured person receives as much compensation as possible.
What a Gwinnett County Boat Accident Attorney Could Do to Help
Suffering an injury after a boating accident can be frustrating and demoralizing. At the same time, medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care may be harming your bank account.
A Peachtree Corners attorney could help you to pursue a boat accident claim for its full value. A skilled legal representative’s work on your claim may include gathering evidence of the accident, using that accident to demonstrate defendant negligence, and evaluating your losses to demand full payment. Contact a Gwinnett County boat accident lawyer today.