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As you head out to enjoy the summer and take more vacation time, it is important to be mindful of the possibility for boating accidents in Georgia. With more than 2,000 miles of tidal shoreline and 100 miles of coastline, in addition to numerous rivers and lakes, Georgia is a popular place for boating. Unfortunately, that also comes with a higher risk of boating accidents. With more than 325,000 registered boats in Georgia, this means that there is one boat for every 32 people and as the summer months come around, more and more boats will be on the waterways.
What many people don’t realize is that getting on to a boat could expose you to just as much accident risk as those crashes involving a car. In 2015, Georgia boating accident statistics indicate that there were 39 drownings, 22 deaths tied to boating injuries, and 64 crashes that led to injuries.
While this represents a small fraction of people who died on the roads in 2015, this number is still significant and should encourage people to be mindful of what to do after a Georgia boating accident. You need to report the incident as soon as possible to the Department of Natural Resources immediately after the incident occurs. You may be required to file a report if the individual involved in the accident disappears or dies.
The disappearance must indicate circumstances of injury or death. The accident must also be reported to DNR if there are any injuries that require anything beyond basic first aid or if the property damage on objects including the boat or surrounding areas is greater than $2000. Unfortunately, boating accidents happen all too frequently and may be tied to someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. In all of these situations, it is powerful or a person who has been injured to recognize their eligibility to pursue a personal injury claim with the https://appalachianinjurylaw.com/contact-us/ of an experienced attorney.